Taulupe Faletau is in line to make his long-awaited return from injury when Cardiff face Leinster in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday in a huge boost to club and country.
The Wales number eight has not played since suffering a shoulder injury against the Sharks in March, bringing another injury-hit campaign to an early end.
Faletau, 35, also battled knee and calf problems last season but signed a new one-year contract with Cardiff in the summer and has been named in the starting XV for the trip to Dublin.
Cardiff changes and injury concerns
He will still need to get the final all-clear before taking to the field at the Laya Arena, however it also represents a major boost to Steve Tandy ahead of his autumn fixtures.
Cardiff head coach Corniel van Zyl has made seven changes from the side that beat Zebre last weekend.
Liam Belcher returns as captain at hooker, while Matty Young makes his URC debut at full-back after scoring against Stade Francais in the Challenge Cup last season.
Mason Grady, Aled Davies, Danny Southworth and Dan Thomas also come into the starting line-up, with Tonga forward Semisi Paea in line to make his Cardiff debut from the bench.
Cardiff are without James Botham, who has a hand injury, while Ben Thomas is struggling with a calf problem and could miss out before Wales' Nations Championship squad is named on October 20.
"It's been a pleasing start to the season in terms of results but there is plenty to work on in terms of performance and we want to take another step forward this week," Van Zyl said.
Leinster recall internationals
Cardiff head to Dublin after back-to-back victories over Scarlets and Zebre, but face a Leinster side packed with Ireland internationals.
The hosts have recalled the likes of Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, James Ryan, Jack Conan, Garry Ringrose and Hugo Keenan after their involvement in the Nations Championship.
The match kicks off at 7.45pm on Saturday.
Leinster XV: Keenan; Kenny, Ringrose, Osborne, J O'Brien; Prendergast, Coffey, Usanov, Sheehan (capt), Furlong, McCarthy, Ryan, Deegan, Penny, Conan. Replacements: Kelleher, Dooley, Clarkson, Spicer, Ericson, Gunne, Gabriel, Henshaw.
Cardiff XV: Young; Beetham, Millard, Malan, Grady; Sheedy, Davies; Southworth, Belcher (capt), Sebastian, McNally, T Williams, Mann, Thomas, Faletau. Replacements: E Lloyd, Barratt, Wainwright, Nott, Paea, Mulder, J Evans, S Emanuel.
NZ Rugby takes 'Chiefs' dispute to court
New Zealand Rugby has launched legal action against the Australian Rugby League Commission over the use of the name "Chiefs" by Papua New Guinea's new NRL franchise.
The dispute is now set to go before the New Zealand High Court after NZR said it had been left with "no choice" but to take action.
The PNG Chiefs are due to enter the NRL in 2028, with the club already recruiting players ahead of its launch.
New Zealand Rugby owns the trademark rights to the word Chiefs and the Chiefs logo in New Zealand, while it has also held trademark protection for the logo in Australia since 1998.
NZR is seeking interim and final injunctions preventing the use of "PNG Chiefs", "Chiefs" or similar names in New Zealand.
The organisation says it has spent the past year attempting to resolve the dispute with the ARLC, but claims the Australian commission is pressing ahead with the official launch of the franchise on October 21.
NZR chief executive Steve Lancaster said: "We now have a responsibility to protect the Chiefs brand."
"We want to be absolutely clear, this is not about rugby league's growth in the Pacific. We welcome the development of the Pacific region through sport."
The Hamilton-based Chiefs have competed in Super Rugby since 1996 and have won two titles, in 2012 and 2013.
Chiefs CEO Simon Graafhuis said the name carried "significant cultural meaning and connection" to the region and its supporters.
But ARLC executive chairman Peter V'landys hit back, accusing New Zealand Rugby of hypocrisy and insisting he would "vigorously defend" PNG's right to use the name.
"The hypocrisy is mind-blowing," V'landys said, pointing to the use of the "Blues" name by Auckland's Super Rugby franchise.
No date has yet been set for the High Court hearing.
Pivac returns to Scarlets with Benetton
Wayne Pivac will return to Llanelli for the first time competitively since leaving Scarlets when he brings Benetton to Parc y Scarlets on Saturday.
The former Scarlets head coach spent five years in charge between 2014 and 2019, most notably guiding the club to the Pro12 title in 2017.
Pivac will be reunited with a number of old friends when Benetton visit, while former Scarlets and Wales fly-half Rhys Patchell will also return to his old club as part of the Italian side's coaching staff.
"I did cast my eye down the fixture list and to see the Scarlets was our first away match was pretty exciting," Pivac said.
"It's good to get the game early and something to look forward to."
"There's also the opportunity to catch up with friends, both from the work point of view, but also friends we made outside of rugby."
Pivac's Scarlets side won the Pro12 title in Dublin in 2017, beating Munster in the final after recovering from a difficult start to the campaign.
He also guided them to the league final and Champions Cup semi-finals the following season.
"Winning the championship with that final success against Munster capped just such a memorable season," he said.
"I recall the smiling faces on the people in the crowd after winning that final and the emotions it attracted."
"These are some fantastic rugby memories, but I also loved living down in Llanelli and experiencing just the whole west Wales environment."
Pivac later spent three years as Wales head coach before spells in Japan and New Zealand.
The 63-year-old took over at Benetton this season and has brought Patchell into his coaching team.
"As a player, Rhys was very diligent and he's no different as a coach," Pivac said.
"He's putting a lot of hours in and, if anything, I've got to get him to pull back a bit."
Scarlets XV: Murray; Mee, James, Hawkins, Page; Costelow, Blacker; Mathias, Elias, Henry Thomas, Groves, Evans, Lousi, Macleod (capt), O Williams. Replacements: McKee, S O'Connor, H O'Connor, Cuckson, Anderson, G Davies, J Roberts, J Williams.
Benetton XV: Gallagher; Lynagh, Mey, Marin, Ratave; Umaga, Garbisi; Spagnolo, Maile, Zilocchi, Cannone, Midena, Marini, Ruzza, Lamaro. Replacements: Bernasconi, Medrano, Ferrari, Fa'aso'o, Kingi, Werchon, Smith, Zanandrea.
