Munster will be without captain Paul O'Connell for the penultimate Manger's League match of the season due to a back problem.

Wales Under-20 James Loxton will make his debut for Cardiff Blues against Ulster in the Magners League at Ravenhill on Friday night.

Connacht 14 Cardiff Blues 19

AS THE gap widens between Connacht and those above them in the Magners League, every game is becoming more critical, and few more so than a home fixture against the Welsh team immediately above them.

Cardiff Blues will have to paddle their canoe without eight Wales internationals away to Connacht at The Sportsground on Friday (6.30pm).

Xavier Rush, Jamie Roberts and Richie Ress all return from injury to take their places in the Cardiff Blues side against Leinster in the Magners League at The RDS on Saturday.

Second-row Deiniol Jones, number eight Xavier Rush and scrmu-half Richie Rees all return from injury for Friday night’s Magner's League clash against Connacht at The Arms Park (7.05).

Cardiff coach Dai Young has given Nicky Robinson his 100th cap for Cardiff Blues for their Magner's League opener against Leinster at The Arms Park on Saturday.

LLANELLI Scarlets leapfrogged the Cardiff Blues into second place in the Magners League with a bonus-point victory following a hard-fought derby clash at Stradey Park last night.

Llanelli Scarlets 35 Cardiff Blues 17

Out-half Rhys Jones will make his first start for the Cardiff Blues when they take on Munster in the Magners League at The Arms Park this Saturday.

Leinster 24 Cardiff 17

THERE will be a reunion of sorts for Munster centre Rua Tipoki at Musgrave Park tonight.

WALES coach Gareth Jenkins hailed Gavin Henson’s reappearance at international level as a “positive” element of his side’s last-ditch 29-23 defeat to Australia in Sydney.

Connacht 16 Cardiff Blues 16

Munster 12 Cardiff 19

SHANNON and UL Bohemians will mark the end of an era at Thomond Park on Saturday.

GARETH JENKINS admits that Wales’ RBS 6 Nations history has veered too often between the good, the bad and the ugly — and he is determined to change that.

WALES wing Shane Williams will miss the February 4 Six Nations opener against Ireland because of a hip injury. Williams, injured in the Ospreys’ win at Sale, joins Mark Jones — also a first choice wing — on the sidelines.

Leicester 34 Cardiff Blues 0

LEICESTER are hurtling towards a Pool Four decider against European champions Munster in Limerick tomorrow week, but they cannot allow such an enticing prospect to overshadow their Welford Road appointment with Cardiff Blues this afternoon (3pm, Sky Sports).

Cardiff predictably maintained their 100% Magners League home record with a five-try victory over bottom side Borders, but it took a purple patch just after half-time to break the Scots’ resistance.

Cardiff Blues 29 Llanelli Scarlets 10

Cardiff Blues won their eighth successive Magners League game in the Arms Park today. They met Ospreys, who were a point ahead of the Blues before the match.

Cardiff Blues 12 Munster 22

Munster have been hit with the withdrawal through injury of John Kelly and Barry Murphy ahead of their Heineken Cup joust with Cardiff Blues at The Millennium Stadium on Sunday.

Ulster 32 Cardiff Blues 12

Cardiff Blues 22 Munster 13

Cardiff 22 Munster 13