NG Dragons v Cardiff Blues (Fri)

Blues wing Leigh Halfpenny is out with an ankle injury

Leigh Halfpenny will miss Cardiff Blues’ Magners League game at Newport Gwent Dragons on Friday.

The Wales wing’s ankle injury sees Dan Fish start at full-back, with Chris Czekaj switching to the wing.

Sam Warburton or Ben White will play at openside, with Martyn Williams at the Royal Wedding, for a game in which the Blues could secure a play-off berth.

Dragons hand Steffan Jones his first start for the Dragons as full-back Will Harries is out for six months.

Harries ruptured knee ligaments and this week the Dragons learned of his lengthy lay-off.

But Wales lock Luke Charteris returns to lead the Dragons after missing the last two matches, while hooker Tom Willis is named on the bench after being sidelined since mid-February with a broken thumb.

“Both of them are proven players at the highest level and as we know this is going to be a highly competitive game,” said Dragons head coach Darren Edwards.

“I think they will bring an added edge that we need.”

The Dragons’ hope of securing a spot in next season’s Heineken came to end and last Friday following their defeat in Edinburgh and the Scarlets’ win over Glasgow.

“It’s really important we finish on a high,” said Edwards.

“It’s a big games and it’s the sort of game we want. Players thrive on those sort of games and hopefully there will be a really good occasion.

“They’re in a real crucial stage in their season and not only being a local derby they’ve got a Magners League campaign to stay in touch with.

“I’m sure they’re going to come here all guns blazing.”

The Blues will also be without prop Gethin Jenkins for the re-arranged game, which was postponed on on 27 December because of snow.

It was feared that 22-year-old Warburton would miss the rest of the season after he suffered a knee injury during Wales’ defeat against France in March.

But the flanker could return for the Rodney Parade clash to boost the Blues’ hopes of securing a play-off berth.

“You work hard all season to try and achieve something,” said Blues head coach Dai Young.

“We set a target at the start of the year we wanted to be in them play-offs. It’s in our own hands now.

Warburton suffered a knee injury during Wales’ defeat against France

“We know how formidable they are at home, but if we can go down and get that result we’re in the play-offs.”

The Blues would secure a trophy for a third successive season should they win the Magners Grand Final.

They beat Gloucester in the final of the EDF Energy Cup in 2009 before defeating Toulon to lift the Amlin Challenge Cup last season.

Since losing 14-13 at Rodney Parade in December 2006, the Blues have won their last eight matches with the Dragons.

But the Newport-based region have a formidable recent home record, having lost just one of their last seven league matches played at Rodney Parade since September, the 16-26 defeat to Leinster on 27 March.

The Blues’ only defeat in their last five Magners League encounters was 15-16 at home to Munster on 25 March, and they have lost just once on the road in the competition since December when falling 13-32 at Ulster on 25 February.

The Dragons will be wearing a one-off charity shirt designed by former player Richard Parks, in aid of his 737 Challenge to raise money for a cancer charity.

“It’s great to see Richard Parks’ challenge going so well,” said Edwards. “The boys were delighted to be supporting him as he takes on this massive challenge.

“A lot of us know Richard from his time here. He was a great influence on the team during his time here and that will continue.

“When he returns we will be looking forward to having him back in our environment to talk to the squad about his experiences as we prepare for next season.”

NG Dragons: Stefan Jones; Adam Hughes, Tom Riley, Ashley Smith, Aled Brew; Jason Tovey, Wayne Evans; Phil Price, Lloyd Burns, Ben Castle, Luke Charteris (capt), Adam Jones, Danny Lydiate, Gavin Thomas, Toby Faletau.

Replacements: Tom Willis, Hugh Gustafson, Dan Way, Andrew Coombs, Lewis Evans, Pat Leach, Jonathan Evans, Matthew Jones.

Cardiff Blues: Dan Fish; Chris Czekaj, Casey Laulala, Jamie Roberts, Tom James; Dan Parks, Richie Rees; John Yapp, Gareth Williams, Taufa’ao Filise, Bradley Davies, Paul Tito (capt), Michael Paterson, Sam Warburton/Ben White, Xavier Rush.

Replacements: Rhys Williams, Sam Hobbs, Scott Andrews, Deiniol Jones, Ma’ama Molitika, Lloyd Williams, Ceri Sweeney, Dafydd Hewitt.

Referee: James Jones (WRU)