Gavin Henson starts at inside centre for Cardiff Blues in their Heineken Cup clash at London Irish on Saturday.
The Blues make seven changes, including Henson's first run-out in the number 12 jersey.
London Irish have made four changes from the side that beat Sale Sharks in the Premiership.
Adam Thompstone is the back three, Shontayne Hape starts at centre, Faan Rautenbach returns to the front row and David Sisi starts at open-side flanker.
Steven Shingler, the Welsh-born centre who has been advised by the IRB he is ineligible to play for Scotland in the forthcoming Six Nations Championship, is named on the Exiles' replacement bench.
For the Blues Alex Cuthbert (groin) and Chris Czekaj (hamstring) return from injury to fill the wing berths.
Up front Rhys Thomas (neck), Fau Filise (shoulder), Bradley Davies and captain Paul Tito all start with Michael Paterson coming in on the flank.
Henson switches to inside centre after two starts at full-back since recovering from a broken wrist, giving him a chance to impress before Wales announce their Six Nations squad on 22 January.
Though the Blues have some big names back, centre Jamie Roberts will miss the Pool Two clash with a knee injury
Centre Dafydd Hewitt (hamstring) is also out of the visit to the Madejski Stadium.
And the hopes of veteran Wales open-side flanker Martyn Williams of returning for the first time in four months after breaking his arm in September have also been dashed.
The Blues have lost just one of their last five European visits to England as they hope to qualify for the Heineken Cup's knock-out stages for the first time since the 2008/09 season.
London Irish's hopes of making the knock-out stages for just the second time in their history are slim as the Exiles have eight points, five points behind Edinburgh and Blues.
The Blues and Edinburgh are level on 13 points with Edinburgh topping Pool 2 courtesy of a superior try count.
The match will be the 100th Heineken Cup match for Cardiff Blues and Cardiff RFC.
"Cardiff is a must-win match if we are to remain in the Heineken Cup," said London Irish head coach Toby Booth.
"We're still in this tournament and fighting for our place. It will be another tough encounter but we will be ready for the challenge."
TEAM NEWS
London Irish: Delon Armitage; Topsy Ojo, Jonathan Spratt, Shontayne Hape, Adam Thompstone; Adrian Jarvis, Darren Allinson; Clarke Dermody (capt), David Paice, Faan Rautenbach, Nick Kennedy, Matt Garvey, Bryn Evans, David Sisi, Alex Gray.
Replacements: James Buckland, Alex Corbisiero, Paulica Ion, Bob Casey, James Sandford, Tom Homer, Steven Shingler, Paul Hodgson.
Blues: Leigh Halfpenny; Alex Cuthbert, Casey Laulala, Gavin Henson, Chris Czekaj; Dan Parks, Lloyd Williams; Gethin Jenkins, Rhys Thomas, Taufa'ao Filise, Bradley Davies, Paul Tito (capt), Michael Paterson, Sam Warburton, Xavier Rush.
Replacements: Ryan Tyrell, John Yapp, Scott Andrews, Maama Molitika, Josh Navidi, Richie Rees, Ceri Sweeney, Richard Mustoe.
Referee: Mr Neil Paterson (Scotland)