Shanks centre of attention

Cardiff Blues centre Tom Shanklin returns to action for the first time since dislocating his shoulder playing against the Dragons last May.

The Blues take on the Scarlets at the Cardiff City Stadium in the first Welsh derby match of the season this evening.

Speaking ahead of the match Cardiff Blues Director of Rugby David Young said, "Last season we won 60% of our games by one score or less, and falling on the right side of the result, and this season so far we've been on the wrong side."

"That was always going to be the concern - luck does change. It's plain to see, we've got to create more opportunities, be far more threatening with the ball and score more points."

"If we do, we will get things right. I think Connacht played the conditions well last weekend, but we have to be better than that. We made it look easy in the first 10 to 15 minutes but after 20 minutes we didn't look threatening."

"We also weren't capable of making opportunities and we became one dimensional, which is very disappointing. I'll make no bones about it; with the personnel we have, we've got to do a lot better. We know we are going to have to play better that we have so far and it's a hugely important game for us."

"We need to get a win, and once we do, the belief and the confidence will come flooding back."

"It will be a monkey off our back, but what we need to do is get a win at the stadium.It's important that we kick on in the Magners League and there would be no better way to do it than against our old rivals the Scarlets."