Cardiff Blues scrum-half Lloyd Williams knows just how important the Welsh region’s Round 3 game in the European Rugby Challenge Cup is after their 14-11 home loss to Leicester Tigers in Round 2.

The Blues, two-time winners of the Challenge Cup, entertain Pau at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday and Williams acknowledges they cannot afford any more slip-ups in Pool 5, where they lie second, three points behind leaders Leicester and only one ahead of the French team.

“Pau will be a big test,” Williams told the Cardiff website. “It’s a game that we need to win at home.”

The Blues will be boosted by the return of wings Josh Adams and Owen Lane, fly-half Jarrod Evans, scrum-half Tomos Williams, lock Seb Davies and prop Dillon Lewis from international duty with Wales.

“It will be great to have the international boys back in camp this week, as they’re team-mates and friends of ours,” Williams added.

“To have them back will really bolster us and having quality like that is never a bad thing. Both on and off the field, they’re great guys.”