Cardiff Blues head coach Danny Wilson is expecting a tough test from Zebre on Sunday despite the Italian outfit travelling to Wales without a handful of big names.

Zebre are without nine Italian internationals this weekend – all selected in Jacques Brunel’s 31-man Rugby World Cup squad – for their trip to BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park.

The Blues are without eight absentees of their own – including British & Irish Lions trio Sam Warburton, Alex Cuthbert and Gethin Jenkins – but Wilson can still call on a strong side.

Tom James – the region’s record try-scorer – returns from a two-year spell with Exeter Chiefs to line up on the left wing, while Rhys Patchell takes the reins at fly-half.

Academy graduate Ethan Lewis will make his GUINNESS PRO12 debut at hooker, with Matthew Rees ruled out of the game after having his appendix removed, and tighthead prop Taufa'ao Filise makes his 197th appearance.

“The first game of any campaign is always an exciting time and we've been pleased with the way the squad has prepared this week and throughout pre-season,” said Wilson.

“Zebre will be keen to make a winning start and have a number of high profile and talented players.

“They have threats throughout, but it's vital we concentrate on ourselves. We need to defend against what they bring and just as importantly impart our own game on the opposition.”

Cardiff Blues have won on the opening weekend in four of the past five seasons and finished of their 2014/15 campaign with a 29-5 home win over Zebre to end a four-game losing streak.

The Blues have won their last three games at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park in the GUINNESS PRO12, whilst the only time they have lost at home to an Italian side was against Zebre in September 2013.

Zebre have lost their last six GUINNESS PRO12 encounters since beating Newport Gwent Dragons in March and have won only twice away from home in the history of the franchise – the other against Brive in Europe last season.

The two sides have met on six previous occasions with the Blues having the edge by four wins to two.

The Zebre side that will chase a third win over their hosts is led by second row George Biagi, who packs down behind new signing loosehead Bruno Postiglioni.

Australian international Luke Burges links up with teenager Maicol Azzolini in the half-backs, while Italian international Michele Visentin is on the left wing and new signing Kayle Van Zyl starts at full-back.

Team manager Andrea de Rossi said: “I think the team that will play in Cardiff is the best possible and reflects the choices made by the technical programming; both collective and individual for the players currently available.

“After Sunday's game Zebre will stay in Wales during the next week in our headquarters in Newport.

“In addition to better prepare for another tough match against the Dragons, these days of retreat will also be useful to build further the new group that will face this first window of the tournament concurrent with the World Cup.”

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At BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park, 2:30pm.

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, competition debut)
Assistant Referees: Gwyn Morris, Ben Whitehouse (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: Gwyn Bowden (WRU)
TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)

Live on S4C