Homecoming ofsorts for Thomas

Toulouse v Cardiff Blues:IT REPRESENTS a homecoming of sorts for Cardiff centre Gareth Thomas, who spent three years at Toulouse, but for 80-plus minutes tomorrow afternoon that will be forgotten. He may have won the Heineken European Cup (2005) with the French side but this time will be trying to plot an unlikely downfall for the three-time European champions.

Cardiff coach Dai Young has been able to select from a full squad and arguably his most interesting decision is to keep faith with young outhalf Dai Flanagan despite Nicky Robinson's recovery from injury. While Young concedes his side face arguably the best team remaining in the tournament, particularly at home, he refuses to be cowed.

"We are very respectful of what they can do, but are concentrating on ourselves. We've got to go out there and not sit back, hoping not to lose the game. We've got to go out to try win it by taking the game to them."

Cardiff are laden with experienced, manifest in players like the Kiwis, captain Xavier Rush and Ben Blair, Thomas, Tom Shanklin, Gethin Jenkins and openside flanker Martyn Williams.

Toulouse coach Guy Noves has elected to start Jean Baptiste Elissalde at outhalf to accommodate former All Black Byron Kelleher at scrumhalf. The three-quarter line oozes pace and flair given the presence of Cedric Heymans, Vincent Clerc and Yannick Jauzion.

Noves has put five forwards on the bench which may illustrate the kind of game he expects but there is no doubt he'll want Toulouse to put pace and width on the game especially with the athleticism of a backrow that includes Yannick Nyanga and Thierry Dusautoir.

Leinster and Llanelli have run up big scores in Toulouse and even at home the French side can be made to look ordinary at times. However, it would take a monumental display from Cardiff to upset the formbook and on the evidence to date Toulouse should have a couple of scores in hand at the finish.

TOULOUSE: C Heymans; V Clerc, M Kunavore, Y Jauzion, M Medard; J-B Elissalde, B Kelleher; D Human, W Servat, S Perugini, F Pelous (capt), P Albacete, Y Nyanga, T Dusautoir, S Sowerby. Replacements: A Vernet Basualdo, JB Poux, R Millo-Chluski, J Bouilhou, V Courrent, M Ahotaeiloa, G Lamboley.

CARDIFF BLUES: B Blair; J Roberts, T Shanklin, G Thomas, T James; D Flanagan, J Spice; G Jenkins, G Williams, T Filise, D Jones, P Tito, M Molitika, M Williams, X Rush (capt). Replacements: J Yapp, T Thomas, S Morgan, B White, R Rees, N Robinson, J Robinson.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England).