Cardiff Blues head coach Danny Wilson knows this weekend’s GUINNESS PRO12 clash with Benetton Treviso is the first in a series of vital fixtures for his side. The Welsh region boast one of the best home records in the GUINNESS PRO12, and with three of their final five games at BT Sport Cardiff Arms park and also three Welsh derby clashes just round the corner, Wilson knows this period is make or break. The form book certainly makes good reading for the Blues, who have only ever lost once at home to an Italian opponent – 25-30 to Zebre in September 2013 – whilst the Italians have not won away from home in the tournament since the short trip to Zebre in December 2014. And with four Welsh internationals all returning to the starting line-up in Sam Warburton, Gethin Jenkins, Gareth Anscombe and Tom James, Wilson wants to take full advantage. “One of the goals we set ourselves this season was to build a home record we could be proud of and make sure sides found it difficult to come to the Arms Park,” he said. “So far this season we've achieved that and played some great rugby on our surface. We've created a game that suits the pitch we play on and the players we have in our squad. “The game with Treviso is a crucial as we start a series of fixtures – and soon Welsh derbies – that we have to take advantage of. “We must take each game as it comes and first-up is Treviso – that must be our only focus.” Wilson makes seven changes to the side that defeated Munster last week, with four of those his Six Nations recalls. Elsewhere, Rhys Patchell move to fullback in a reshuffled back line and Dan Fish onto the flank. Jenkins is part of a new-look front row alongside Kristian Dacey and Dillon Lewis, fresh from his Grand Slam winning duties with Wales Under-20s, while James Down is fit to join forces with Josh Turnbull in the second row. Treviso have never done a season’s double over the Welsh side, but having won in Italy back in February are in line to do just that, and the Blues have won only one of their last four fixtures between the two. Marius Goosen makes three changes to his XV, with Tommaso Iannone switching inside Luca Morisi in the centres, while Ludovico Nitoglia comes in on the wing. Chris Smylie is in at scrum-half and the only change to the pack sees Dean Budd start in place of Robert Barbieri. At BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park, 7.05pm Live on BBC Wales Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 10th competition game) Assistant Referees: Dan Jones, Martyn Lewis (both WRU) Citing Commissioner: Gwyn Bowden (WRU) TMO: Paul Adams (WRU) To buy tickets for the GUINNESS PRO12 Grand Final click here. Also follow us on Facebook, join the conversation on Twitter, sign up to our YouTube channel for extensive match highlights and sign up for our newsletter for regular updates on the GUINNESS PRO12.
