Taulupe Faletau has given Wales another injury concern as he misses Cardiff's URC clash against the Stormers with a calf injury.
Faletau was named in Wayne Pivac's squad for the autumn as the only specialist No. 8, but he won't feature for the Blue and Blacks this weekend after being ruled out through injury. The severity of the injury is unknown, but with the Wales squad set to meet up next week, it's hardly ideal timing.
Elsewhere, Rhys Carre starts in the Cardiff front-row after missing out on the Welsh squad. Hooker Kristian Dacey makes his 150th league appearance as he completes the front-row alongside Dillon Lewis.
Read more: Cardiff respond to Pivac's public Rhys Carre comments
Rory Thornton partners captain Josh Turnbull in the second-row, while Dai Young names an unchanged back row of Shane Lewis-Hughes, Thomas Young and James Ratti.
Rhys Priestland moves to fly-half as Jarrod Evans misses out with a groin injury, starting alongside fellow Wales squad member Tomos Williams.
Max Llewellyn and Uilisi Halaholo start in midfield, while Ben Thomas and Theo Cabango return from injury to complete the back-three with Jason Harries. Josh Adams misses out once again with a wrist injury.
Speaking about his team selection, Young said: “We’re really looking forward to Saturday night and what promises to be a significant challenge in the shape of the Stormers.
“They are a quality outfit, the reigning champions and you only have to look at their 16-game unbeaten run to appreciate how good they are.
“We will need to be at our best but we are at our home ground where we get brilliant support and we are on the back of two Welsh derby wins. This will be another step up, and we have some more injuries, but it’s a challenge we are relishing and will show us where we are as a team.
“We need to front up physically to match them and make sure we do not give a very dangerous back-three opportunities. That means being really accurate on both sides of the ball, being disciplined and playing for the full 80 minutes.”
Cardiff: Ben Thomas; Jason Harries, Max Llewellyn, Uilisi Halaholo, Theo Cabango; Rhys Priestland, Tomos Williams; Rhys Carré, Kristian Dacey, Dillon Lewis, Josh Turnbull (capt.), Rory Thornton, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Thomas Young, James Ratti
Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Corey Domachowski, Dmitri Arhip, Matthew Screech, Lopeti Timani, James Botham, Lloyd Williams, Mason Grady
Unavailable for selection: Josh Navidi (neck), Liam Williams (collarbone), Owen Lane (ankle), Jacob Beetham (knee), Aled Summerhill (knee), Matthew Morgan (knee), Josh Adams (wrist), Rey Lee-Lo (return to play protocols), Jarrod Evans (groin), Seb Davies (shoulder), Taulupe Faletau (calf)
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