Also in the backs Dan Fish starts at fullback having recovered from a shoulder injury. Rhys Patchell and Harry Robinson, who have both been selected in the Wales U20s squad for the IRB Junior World Championships in France, also start.
In the forwards Michael Paterson, playing his last game for the Blues before joining Sale Sharks, starts at Number 8.
Josh Navidi, Lou Reed, Bradley Davies and Scott Andrews, who are all included in the 32-man training squad to prepare for the forthcoming two-test tour of Japan, all start. Ceri Sweeney and Tom James, who will be joining Exeter Chiefs, feature on the bench.
The Blues take on an Ulster side that require three more match points to ensure that they finish at the top of the table. The Ulsterman have won their last three RaboDirect PRO12 matches and have lost just once at Ravenhill in the competition all season.
However, the Blues can take confidence from the fact they have recorded two away victories over Irish provinces this season in Connacht (round 1) and Munster (round 13).
The match is shown live on BBC One - Northern Ireland channel 972 on Sky, kicking off at 7.45pm on Friday night.
Cardiff Blues 15 Dan Fish 14 Alex Cuthbert 13 Gavin Evans (c) 12 Dafydd Hewitt 11 Harry Robinson 10 Rhys Patchell 9 Lewis Jones
1 Taufa'ao Filise 2 Kristian Dacey 3 Scott Andrews 4 Bradley Davies 5 Lou Reed 6 Luke Hamilton 7 Josh Navidi 8 Michael Paterson
16 Marc Breeze 17 Thomas Davies 18 Campese Ma'afu 19 Teofilo Paulo 20 Macauley Cook 21 Liam Davies 22 Ceri Sweeney 23 Tom James
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