Cardiff Blues director of rugby Mark Hammett insists his side are itching to test themselves against the best when they take on reigning GUINNESS PRO12 champions Leinster at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park. Hammett makes just three changes to the starting line-up that defeated Newport Gwent Dragons on New Year's Day. Tighthead prop Adam Jones is called into the front row, to pack down with Kristian Dacey and skipper Gethin Jenkins. Lock Lou Reed is also called up to join forces with Samoa international Filo Paulo in the second row. The final change sees a return for wing Alex Cuthbert while fit-again scrum half Lloyd Williams is named among the replacements. The fixture will be Blues’ first Guinness PRO12 fixture on home soil in 2015 and boss Hammett is aware of the size of the challenge the region faces against the champions, a side they have only beaten once in their last 16 encounters. "Leinster have set the benchmark for many clubs in European rugby and will arrive at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park full of confidence and with a talented squad," he said. "They are powerful in the set piece and look to keep the ball in hand and alive when they attack. When they are defending they use the choke tackle to really put pressure on. "Our contact work will have to go up another notch and we need to work hard in both attack and defence if we are to secure an important result." Leinster's only defeat in their last seven Guinness PRO12 fixtures came against Munster in Limerick on St Stephen's Day, while their only away victory in the tournament this season came in round 6 on a visit to Zebre. The Leinstermen have won all three games they have played against Welsh regions this season but, after beating Ulster last time out, back Fergus McFadden wants his side to maintain momentum. McFadden returned from a hand injury for last weekend's win in the RDS Arena but, he says, picking up the win was more satisfying than making a return to the field. "I was just delighted to get the four points, first and foremost. On a personal level, it was nice to get 80 minutes under my belt. Fingers crossed I'll get a chance to get a bit more game time this week just to knock a few more cobwebs out. But, yeah, delighted with the four points against Ulster and I think we really needed it. For us, a few other fixtures went our way as well in that top four with Glasgow and Ospreys losing. We need to try to keep the momentum now." There are 11 changes in total as Matt O'Connor welcomes back from injury some high profile names and also those that have been rested during the last few games. Squad vice-captain Rob Kearney is back at full back and leads the side with brother Dave on the left wing and McFadden selected on the right. It's an all new centre partnership with Noel Reid at 12 and Ben Te'o outside him for his third appearance of the season since joining from the South Sydney Rabbitohs and his first start since fracturing his forearm in the defeat of Edinburgh in October. In the half backs Luke McGrath starts at scrum half with Jimmy Gopperth selected at 10. In the pack, it's a completely new front five with a front row full of Irish internationals as Michael Bent, Sean Cronin and Marty Moore start. It is Moore's first involvement since the away trip in October against Zebre where he sustained a shoulder injury. The second row features Tom Denton and Kane Douglas while in the back row Dominic Ryan returns on the blindside while Jordi Murphy starts at openside. Finally, after his Guinness PRO12 Man of the Match performance last week against Ulster, Jack Conan starts at eight. At BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park, 2.40pm Live on Sky Sports Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU, 66th competition game) Assistant Referees: Nigel Owens, Rhys Thomas (both WRU) Citing Commissioner: John Charles (WRU) TMO: Tim Hayes (WRU)
