Elsewhere Jarrad Hoeata starts in the second-row with Josh Turnbull moving to number eight and Josh Navidi named among the replacements.
Danny Wilson's side are aiming to finish the season with a hat-trick of wins to have the best possible chance of a top six finish in the league.
But the Cardiff Blues head coach is under no illusions of the magnitude of the task at hand.
Wilson said: "Dragons at home is a massive game especially off the back of a huge win for them and then it's the Ospreys at the Principality Stadium, another derby.
"They are great games to play at the end of the season when you have something to fight for.
"We're not playing to make up the numbers, we genuinely have an opportunity to finish in the top six. If we do it will be a massive achievement considering the way the season started."
The Blues claimed a 21-20 victory the last time the two sides met and are on the back of three consecutive PRO12 triumphs.
They claimed a 28-22 victory over the Scarlets in west Wales in their last fixture and Wilson is pleased with the way his side are progressing.
He added: "It was a day where it all came together but it wasn't unique in being a one off.
"If you look at our attacking game over the last few weeks, we have scored some great tries against Treviso, Munster and Ulster, not poor teams, but the pleasing thing was we did it away from home.
"That's the next step for us, we needed to accept things would take time and there will still be bumps in the road.
"We have hit a bit of form recently but we're not hiding away from the fact that this league is full of very good teams and anyone can beat anyone on their day.
"We're taking steps in the right direction and we still have a long way to go.
"We have to take the highs with the lows but if we can keep this form going for the rest of the season and into the next then brilliant."
Blaine Scully (hand), Alex Cuthbert (knee), Cory Allen (ankle), Chris Dicomidis (ankle) and Sam Hobbs (shoulder) are all unavailable for selection.
Tickets remain available for the game at ticket office on 029 20 302030 or online at www.cardiffblues.com/tickets.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Rhys Patchell, 14 Dan Fish, 13 Garyn Smith, 12 Rey Lee-Lo, 11 Tom James, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Lloyd Williams; 1 Gethin Jenkins (c), 2 Kristian Dacey, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 5 James Down, 6 Ellis Jenkins, 7 Sam Warburton, 8 Josh Turnbull
Replacements: 16 Matthew Rees, 17 Brad Thyer, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Manoa Vosawai, 20 Josh Navidi, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Harri Millard, 23 Aled Summerhill
Guinness PRO12 Blues News
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