Cardiff Blues boss Dai Young admits he is likely to be without his Wales stars for the final Magners League match of the season.
Grand Slam heroes Martyn Williams, Tom Shanklin and Gethin Jenkins are set to miss the crucial match with Ulster at Ravenhill on May 9 in order to undertake preparations for the summer tour of South Africa.
And they are expected to be joined on international duty by strong tour candidates like Jamie Roberts, Tom James and Deiniol Jones.
That is bound to affect the Blues’ chances in Belfast, where they may well need to win to have a chance of holding on to second place in the league, but former Welsh skipper Young is ready to throw his weight behind Warren Gatland's plan to hold a training week.