Leigh Halfpenny

Cardiff Blues backs Casey Laulala and Leigh Halfpenny both return from injury to face Edinburgh this Friday. Laulala has recovered from a hamstring injury suffered against Harlequins in early February while Halfpenny has recovered from an ankle injury and will make his first start for the Blues since January.

In the backs the Blues also welcome back Chris Czekaj from the Wales squad along with John Yapp and Scott Andrews in the front row. Michael Paterson has also recovered from a foot injury to take a place on the bench.

Cardiff Blues travel to Edinburgh aware that the loss last weekend to Ulster dropped them three places down the table.  The Blues four game winning run in the Magners League ended at Ulster on Friday and they will be keen not to slip up again as they are now in 5th place, one point off the play-off zone but with a game in hand over the four teams above them.

The two sides have already met on three separate occasions this season with the Blues victorious each time.

15 Chris Czekaj 14 Leigh Halfpenny 13 Casey Laulala 12 Dafydd Hewitt 11 Richard Mustoe 10 Ceri Sweeney 9 Tom Slater

8 Xavier Rush 7 Martyn Williams 6 Maama Molitika 5 Paul Tito (c) 4 Deiniol Jones 3 Scott Andrews 2 T Rhys Thomas 1 John Yapp

16 Gareth Williams 17 Sam Hobbs 18 Fau Filise 19 Michael Paterson 20 Andries Pretorius 21 Tom Rowlands 22 Gareth Davies 23 Gavin Evans

The following players were not available for selection because of injury:

Ben Blair – knee

Gethin Jenkins – toe

Lloyd Williams – shoulder

Tom Shanklin – knee

Tom Davies – calf

James Down – foot

Richie Rees – suspended