Cardiff Blues centre Willis Halaholo will play his first game in almost 11 months in the opening match of the Pro14 2020-21 season at Zebre in Italy.

The 30-year-old is reunited in midfield with Rey Lee-Lo, in a backline that includes six internationals.

But Wales back-row Josh Navidi (concussion) and scrum-half Tomos Williams (shoulder) are ruled out.

Other Blues injuries are Rhys Gill (bicep), Jason Harries (knee), Owen Lane (shoulder), Mason Grady (ankle), Keiron Assiratti (ankle) and Will Boyde (calf).

Wales lock Cory Hill captains the Welsh side for the first time since returning from Dragons.

Hill partners Seb Davies in the second row, while academy graduates Corey Domachowski and Liam Belcher are included in the front row with Dmitri Arhip.

Shane Lewis-Hughes and James Botham, who both impressed in the victory over Ospreys on the final day of the 2019-20 campaign, are rewarded with starting spots, as the experienced Josh Turnbull is handed the number eight jersey.

Jarrod Evans and Lloyd Williams combine at half-back, while Matthew Morgan and Hallam Amos line up in the back three alongside Josh Adams.

New Zealand-born Halaholo qualifies for Wales through residency and was due to face Barbarians in an uncapped match - Wayne Pivac's first game in charge - before injury struck.

"He's got that burning desire to be in a red jersey," said Cardiff Blues head coach John Mulvihill.

"The timing was pretty poor for his injury; being acknowledged as one of the better 12s in Welsh rugby was something that he had worked towards.

"He just has to work his way into it now. He's back and he's had a couple of weeks of full training."

Zebre have Samoa full-back Junior Laloifi, Ireland lock Mick Kearney and Italy hooker Oliviero Fabiani back in a side containing 12 Italy internationals.

But the Italians have a lengthy injury list of Iacopo Bianchi, Luca Bigi, Michelangelo Biondelli, Tommaso Castello, Gabriele Di Giulio, Andrea Lovotti, Giovanni Licata, Enrico Lucchin, Samuele Ortis and David Sisi.

Zebre: Junior Laloifi; Federico Mori,. Giulio Bisegni (capt), Tommaso Boni, Mattia Bellini; Carlo Canna, Marcello Violi; Daniele Rimpelli, Oliviero Fabiani, Eduardo Bello, Mick Kearney, Leonard Krumov, Maxime Mbandà, Johan Meyer, Jimmy Tuivaiti.

Replacements: Massimo Ceciliani, Danilo Fischetti, Giosuè Zilocchi, Cristian Stoian, Lorenzo Masselli, Guglielmo Palazzanit, Antonio Rizzi, Jacopo Trulla.

Cardiff Blues: Matthew Morgan; Josh Adams, Rey Lee-Lo, Willis Halaholo, Hallam Amos; Jarrod Evans, Lloyd Williams; Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher, Dmitri Arhip, Seb Davies, Cory Hill (capt), Shane Lewis-Hughes, James Botham, Josh Turnbull.

Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Rhys Carré, Dillon Lewis, Ben Murphy, Olly Robinson, Lewis Jones, Jason Tovey, Garyn Smith.

Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)

Assistant Referees: Federico Vedovelli, Riccardo Angelucci (both FIR)

TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)