Ospreys v Blues: Teams

Cardiff Blues welcome back scrum-half Richie Rees for Saturday's Magners League clash with the Ospreys at Liberty Stadium.

Having missed the entire RBS Six Nations campaign, Rees will make his first start since serving a 12-week ban.

Other changes in the backs see Tom James return having recovered from a minor foot injury.

Jamie Roberts starts at Centre with Dafydd Hewitt moving to the bench and Dan Parks at fly-half with Ceri Sweeney also moving to the bench.

Cardiff full-back, Chris Czekaj, notch up his 100th game for the Blues in the week that he signed a new contract extension with the region.

There are three changes in the forwards with Bradley Davies starting in the second row and Gareth Williams returning from a calf injury. Fau Filise also returns from an Achilles injury.

Important

The Blues travel to Swansea knowing it's a must-win game for them if they have ambitions of finish in the top four of the Magners League. They are currently in fifth place, five points behind the Ospreys, but with a game in hand.

"Going to the Ospreys will focus their minds. And we know where we are - we know we've got to win the five games...and we've got play better," said Cardiff director of rugby David Young.

"Make no bones about it, very few teams go to the Ospreys and win. So we know how difficult that's going to be, but we're going to have to do it. If we want to get into these Play-Offs, that's what we've got to do.

"We've got three Welsh derbies and they're always difficult to win no matter where they are. Every game is a Cup Final. We've got to go to these places and win.

"It's a big mountain for us to climb. We're capable of it and that's what I've said to the players. But we're going to have to be better than we were - it's as simple as that."

Meanwhile, Cai Griffiths will make his 100th Ospreys appearance if he comes off the bench

Ospreys: 15 Richard Fussell, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 James Hook, 11 Nikki Walker, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Jerry Collins, 7 Justin Tipuric , 6 Ryan Jones, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun Wyn Jones (capt), 3 Adam Jones, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Paul James
Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Cai Griffiths, 19 Ian Gough, 20 Jonathan Thomas, 21 Mike Phillips, 22 Andrew Bishop, 23 Lee Byrne

Cardiff Blues: 15 Chris Czekaj, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Tom James, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Richie Rees, 8 Xavier Rush, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Andries Pretorius, 5 Paul Tito (capt), 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Scott Andrews, 2 Gareth Williams, 1 Fau Filise
Replacements: 16 Rhys Williams 17 Sam Hobbs 18 Nathan Trevett 19 Michael Paterson 20 Mamma Molitika 21 Lloyd Williams 22 Ceri Sweeney 23 Dafydd Hewitt