**Cardiff Blues will welcome the Isuzu Southern Kings on Saturday as they look to strengthen their title hopes in the Guinness PRO14.**

Their opponents sit joint last in the other conference and will look to end a run of three straight defeats.

What’s at stake?

The Kings have no hope of breaking into Finals Series in Conference B but need just a point to overtake the Dragons ahead of the Welsh side’s clash with Ulster on Sunday.

They have struggled on the defensive end, conceding a mammoth 80 tries and 554 points in just 16 games this campaign.

Their opponents have fared a lot better, winning their last three at home and proving reliable on both ends of the pitch as they sit in third place in Conference A.

Going into the game, however, they lie 14 points behind second-placed Glasgow Warriors and will be looking over their shoulder at Connacht, Ospreys and Toyota Cheetahs.

Team News (Cardiff)

Jason Harries will make his first start for the Blues since recovering from a foot injury last week to score two against Edinburgh off the bench.

Cardiff will also have Tomos Williams available amongst the replacements after he missed out on Wales’ victory over England.

The Blues will make five changes in all, with Harri Millard, Brad Thyer, Aled Summerhill, Macauley Cook and Scott Andrews coming into the starting lineup.

Team News (Kings)

No.8 Andisa Ntsila will earn his eighth start of the season as Ruaan Lerm fails to recover from a concussion sustained last week.

Elsewhere, captain JC Astle will return to the starting lineup alongside centre Tertius Kruger.

Talking Points

Cardiff Blues Head Coach John Mulvihill said : “It’s an important weekend, because now we can get a break on one of the teams (below us).

“The last three games the Kings have played, they’ve been close at half-time. They play well first half, but they tend to lose a bit of shape towards the end.

“We need to focus on our start, that’s what has been letting us down because we do finish really well.”

Southern Kings Head Coach Deon Davids said : “We have had a tough two matches so far on the tour, and this week against a Cardiff Blues side that is on the back of a good win over Edinburgh will be an equally tough contest.

“We have worked very hard this week to counter whatever they may have up their sleeve this weekend. We are hoping to end this tour on a positive note.”

Key battle – Jason Harries vs Bjorn Basson

The Blues winger transformed the game last week after coming off the bench to score twice, but in a starting berth he’ll have to do well to outshine South African Bjorn Basson.

The veteran Kings player set the try-scoring record in the Currie Cup a few years ago.

Did you know? The Isuzu Southern Kings have not won an away game this season.

Cardiff Blues: Aled Summerhill; Owen Lane, Harri Millard, Willis Halaholo, Jason Harries, Jarrod Evans, Lloyd Williams, Brad Thyer, Liam Belcher, Scott Andrews, George Earle, Macauley Cook, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Olly Robinson, Nick Williams ©.

Replacements: Ethan Lewis, Corey Domachowski, Keiron Assiratti, Rory Thornton, Seb Davies, Tomos Williams, Garyn Smith, Matthew Morgan.

Southern Kings: Ulrich Beyers; Yaw Penxe, Meli Rokoua, Tertius Kruger, Bjorn Basson, Bader Pretorius, Sarel Pretorius, Alulotho Tshakweni, Michael Willemse, De-Jay Terblanche, John-Charles Astle ©, Henry Brown, Martinus Burger, Andisa Ntsila.

Replacements: Alandre van Rooyen, Schalk Ferreira, Lupumlo Mguca, Stephan Greef, Stephan De Wit, Rudi van Rooyen, Nerton Lassen, Masixole Banda.

🔴 TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT ⚫️

The Isuzu Southern Kings team to face Cardiff Blues: #CARvKIN#GuinnessPRO14#KingsCare@cardiff_blues @PRO14RUBGY @Springboks pic.twitter.com/fWulMNopz9

— Isuzu Southern Kings (@SouthernKingsSA) March 1, 2019

TV: At Cardiff Arms Park, at 7.35pm (UK Time). Live on Premier Sports and BBC Alba.

Referee: Joy Neville (IRFU)

Assistant referees: Dan Jones (WRU), Mark Patton (IRFU)

TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)