Faletau returns after eight months for Cardiff v Cheetahs
European Challenge Cup: Cardiff v Cheetahs
Venue: Arms Park, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 14 December Kick off: 20:00 GMT
Coverage: Report on the BBC Sport website and app.
Taulupe Faletau will play his first game in eight months when Cardiff host Cheetahs in the European Challenge Cup on Saturday.
The Wales number eight has not played since suffering a broken shoulder against Ulster in April.
Faletau is one of 11 changes from Cardiff's opening weekend defeat in Lyon, with James Botham also returning to the back row and Josh McNally at lock.
Props Corey Domachowski and Will Davies-King form a new front row along with hooker Liam Belcher, who skippers the side.
Among five changes in the back division, 18-year-old academy graduate Tom Bowen will make his debut.
Wales internationals Cam Winnett and Ben Thomas both return to the starting XV, as do half-back pairing Aled Davies and Callum Sheedy.
Cardiff have opted for a 6-2 split on the replacement bench with Rory Jennings returning from injury to provide cover across the back-line.
Cardiff, winners of the European Challenge Cup in 2010 and 2018, picked up a losing bonus point on the opening weekend. They have won all three previous encounters with Cheetahs at the Arms Park.
The South African side reached the knockout stages of the European Challenge Cup in both their previous appearances in the tournament, losing in the last 16 on each occasion.
They began their third European campaign with a 20-20 draw against Perpignan played in Amsterdam last weekend.
Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt said: "We're looking forward to getting back to the Arms Park for a really important fixture in this competition.
"We have spoken this week about how much we would love to have knockout rugby at the Arms Park and that process starts against the Cheetahs on Saturday.
"It's brilliant to be able to bring the likes of Liam Belcher and Toby Faletau back after injuries, and we are all really pleased to see another pathway graduate, in Tom Bowen, make his debut at just 18 and just a week after Steff Emanuel.
"Cheetahs are a quality side, they drew with Perpignan last week and will be coming here with a real point to prove. They are well coached and have a lot of dangerous players so we will need to be at our best."
Cardiff: Cam Winnett; Josh Adams, Rey Lee-Lo, Ben Thomas, Tom Bowen; Callum Sheedy, Aled Davies; Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher (capt), Will Davies-King, Josh McNally, Teddy Williams, James Botham, Dan Thomas, Taulupe Faletau,
Replacements: Daf Hughes, Danny Southworth, Kieron Assiratti, Seb Davies, Alex Mann, Alun Lawrence, Johan Mulder, Rory Jennings.
Cheetahs: Michael Annies; Munier Hartzenberg, CJ Coetzee, Ali Mgijima, Cohen Jasper; Ethan Wentzel, Ruben de Haas; Schalk Ferreira, Louis van der Westhuizen, Aranos Coetzee, Carl Wegner, Victor Sekekete (capt), Gideon van der Merwe, Oupa Mohoje, Jeandre Rudolph.
Replacements: Vernon Paulo, Hencus van Wyk, Rob Hunt, Pierre-Raymond Uys, Friedle Olivier, Daniel Maartens, Rewan Kruger, George Lourens.
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
Assistant referees: Andrew Cole & Sam Holt (IRFU)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
