MAGNERS LEAGUE Venue: Sportsground, Galway Date: 18 September Kick-off: 1900 BST Coverage: Updates on BBC Sport website, highlights on Sunday's Scrum V
Warburton won his first cap from the bench against the USA in June
Cardiff Blues coach Dai Young says Sam Warburton's rugby destiny is at open-side as Wales and the Blues seek a stand-in for Martyn Williams.
"His long-term future I see at seven, although he has got the size and physicality to play right across the back-row," Young told BBC Sport Wales.
Young has brought Warburton in at seven against Connacht in place of another Wales open-side, Robin Sowden-Taylor.
"We are lucky to have two quality sevens," said Young.
"They will put pressure on each other with Martyn out until, really, Christmas for us."
Cardiff-born Warburton, 20, captained Wales at the 2007 Under-19 World Cup and won his first senior cap from the bench against the USA on Wales' summer tour this year.
Williams has been one of the few players in Wales who has been seen as irreplaceable in the national side.
His value was shown as Wales coach Warren Gatland coaxed him out of a premature retirement after the disastrous 2007 World Cup campaign.
The 34-year-old is hoping to nurse himself through to the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, but he is currently recovering from a shoulder injury following the summer's 2009 British and Irish Lions tour and looks certain to miss the autumn Test series.
Evans eager to press Blues case
Sowden-Taylor has long been seen as the heir-apparent to Williams, but although the 27-year-old has eight caps to his name he has never made a convincing case for surpassing Williams.
He has started the Blues' first two games of the season - defeats to Edinburgh and Munster - but now makes way for Warburton.
Young has been highly critical of his team's work in the contact area, but stresses that should not reflect on Sowden-Taylor as it is a "team thing".
Former Wales and Lions three-quarter John Devereux says he is excited by the potential of the Blues' new seven, though.
"I'm a big fan of Sam Warburton," Devereux told BBC Wales' Scrum V Radio programme.
"I've watched him come through, he's big, quick and he's hungry.
"Getting a cap on the summer tour is just what he needed.
"He needs game time now, to be playing in the top flight."
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