Cardiff are set to welcome back a host of senior players for the Boxing Day clash with Scarlets at Cardiff Arms Park (3pm kick-off).
After having 42 players unavailable for their past two European encounters due to their Covid nightmare, Dai Young's side can once again call on the big guns for the visit of the West Walians.
Ellis Jenkins returns to lead the side, James Botham retains his place in the back row moving to number eight with Will Boyde included at openside.
Matthew Screech comes back into the second row with Seb Davies and Corey Domachowski, Kirby Myhill and Dmitri Arhip complete the pack.
Lloyd Williams and Rhys Priestland line up at scrum-half and fly-half respectively, with Ben Thomas and Rey Lee-Lo in midfield.
Josh Adams, Owen Lane and Matthew Morgan complete the starting line-up.
The visitors have Liam Williams back in the ranks after his spell on the sidelines following his appendix removal before he linked up with Wales this autumn.
Williams slots in at full-back in a side showing four changes from the team selected for the postponed Heineken Champions Cup tie against Bordeaux.
Johnny McNicholl and Ryan Conbeer are named on the wings, with Steff Evans missing out after he picked up an ankle injury in training this week.
Jonathan Davies captains the side and again partners Scott Williams in midfield.
Dan Jones starts at fly-half and links up with British & Irish Lion Gareth Davies at scrum-half.
Rob Evans, Ryan Elias and new Scotland cap Javan Sebastian make up an all-international front row, while Sam Lousi and Tom Price pack down in the second row.
Denied his comeback last weekend, flanker Josh Macleod is poised to make his first appearance since rupturing his Achilles in February.
Macleod is named at openside in a back row that includes Blade Thomson and Sione Kalamafoni.
And in encouraging news, Wales international Rhys Patchell is set to make his first competitive appearance since October 2020 after being named as one of the replacements along.
Young said: “The guys over the past two weeks did the jersey proud. They went out there and I don’t think we could expect any more from the team. They were in both games for a big part of the contest.
“Nobody could have asked more from those two squads, they really did the club and themselves proud, and we’ve challenged the squad this week to back that up.
“They put a smile of everyone’s face in quarantine because we were all over the moon that they did so well.
“Obviously there were some difficult times for us while in quarantine, but having been back together at the Arms Park we’re now fully focused on Sunday and looking forward to getting back out there in a Welsh derby.
“We have to be honest as well with how disappointing playing in front of no crowd is, especially over the festive period.
“Playing a local derby at a full house at the Arms Park is something that doesn’t happen every week. So we’re very disappointed to lose that occasion and to lose what would’ve been a fantastic opportunity.
“That said, the boys are still really excited about a Welsh derby and are determined to give our fans something to celebrate, even if it is from home.”
Cardiff Rugby: Matthew Morgan; Owen Lane, Rey Lee-Lo, Ben Thomas, Josh Adams; Rhys Priestland, Lloyd Williams; Corey Domachowski, Kirby Myhill, Dmitri Arhip, Seb Davies, Matthew Screech, Ellis Jenkins (capt.), Will Boyde, James Botham
Replacements: Liam Belcher, Brad Thyer, Will Davies-King, James Ratti, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Tomos Williams, Jarrod Evans, Jason Harries
Scarlets : Liam Williams; Johnny McNicholl, Jonathan Davies (capt), Scott Williams, Ryan Conbeer; Dan Jones, Gareth Davies; Rob Evans, Ryan Elias, Javan Sebastian, Sam Lousi, Tom Price, Blade Thomson, Josh Macleod, Sione Kalamafoni.
Replacements: Marc Jones, Wyn Jones, Harri O’Connor, Aaron Shingler, Tomas Lezana, Kieran Hardy, Rhys Patchell, Ioan Nicholas.
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