OWEN Lane and Cardiff have been inspired by the sensational return of Ellis Jenkins as Blues look to finish the season on a high.
Wales flanker Jenkins is back after two years out with a knee injury and putting in remarkable performances given his long absence.
Lane, 23, has had injury struggles of his own with hamstring, foot and shoulder problems, but last week signed renewed his contract to stay in Cardiff.
Lane said: “Ellis is a big inspiration for us and his situation was also a bit of a reality check for me. I was in and out of the injured club throughout the two years he was rehabbing.
“He had some tough days where he thought he might not be returning. That helped give me some perspective.
“I had injuries with a clear time frame of when I was going to return and no uncertainty. Ellis didn't have that. He's been inspirational and in true Ellis fashion he's been almost better than he was before.
“I'm really excited for him and hopefully he can string some performances together because it would be nice to see him back in a Welsh shirt again too.”
Lane sees a bright future at Cardiff despite uncertainty over the future of interim DoR Dai Young and whether incoming attack coach Dwayne Peel will join from Ulster.
But Lane isn't worried by that and believes playing in Wales is the key to him adding to the two Test caps he has won so far.
He said: “It was an obvious decision to stay here and hopefully my performances warrant Wales selection further down the line.”
BENETTON: Hayward; Tavuyara, Riera, Morisi, Esposito; Allan, Duvenage (c); Gallo, Els, Nemer, Herbst, Snyman, Ruggeri, Zuliani, Favretto
Replacements: Nicotera, Baravalle, Pasquali, Canali, Pettinelli, Sgarbi, Petrozzi, Benvenuti
CARDIFF BLUES: Morgan; Lane, Grady, Lee-Lo, Summerhill; Thomas, Hill; Domachowski, Belcher, Assiratti, Davies, Thornton, Robinson, Jenkins, Turnbull (c)
Replacements: Harris, Gill, Lewis, Ratti, Lawrence, Jones, Evans, Harries
