Gareth Anscombe will start for Cardiff Blues against the Ospreys team he is joining next season for the most important game of their campaigns.
The loser of Saturday’s Guinness PRO14 Judgement Day shoot-out at the Principality Stadium will be unable to reach next season’s Champions Cup.
The winner will go through to a play-off with the fourth-placed finisher from Conference B for the final place in the European showpiece, against the Scarlets, Edinburgh or Benetton.
Former Wales international Lee Jarvis, who was in a similar situation when he was leaving Pontypridd for Neath, believes it would unfair on Anscombe to pick him.
But Blues coach John Mulvihill insists the Wales outside-half will be in his side on Saturday and his primary goal-kicker.
“He’s one of our best players so he’ll play – he’s a complete professional,” insisted Mulvihill.
“If there’s a 50/50 ball or a goal to be kicked, he’s the man to do it. It may be the Gareth Anscombe show!
“He’s had a great season with us and wants to finish on a high.
“Players and coaches come and go and we happen to be playing the Ospreys this week.
“Gareth will want to leave Cardiff Blues on a high and I have 100 per cent confidence in him.”
Anscombe is likely to be at full-back with hot prospect Jarrod Evans at outside-half.
“It’s up to us with Jarrod and Gareth to make sure we get in the right areas of the ground,” said Mulvihill.
Ospreys coach Allen Clarke believes Anscombe will be flat out to win the clash with the Blues despite knowing victory would cost him a chance to play in the Champions Cup next season.
“We will do things the correct way. Gareth is a good man who has great integrity – that was part of the attraction of signing him.”
He also confirmed the Ospreys “most definitely” want to keep Dragons No.10 target Sam Davies next season and have offered him a new contract.
“If we want to be more successful the more players we need to have across the board with the quality of Sam,” said Clarke.
