Czekaj lasted 80 minutes
Cardiff missed an opportunity to overtake Welsh rivals, Dragons and Scarlets, as they failed to take anything away from the Scottish capitol.
The fixture provided a real head ache for Dai Young, who knows his side must qualify for Europe through their league finish, but with the regions biggest two weeks ahead of them, it was always going to be an overshadowed event.
The Blues face one of the best club sides in world rugby just a week after Friday night's Celtic clash, taking on Toulouse in the Heineken Cup Quarter Final, and players minds would struggle to focus on Edinburgh.
Indeed that seemed the case, as Cardiff struggled to get a footing in a game played in thick fog at an empty Murrayfield.
Edinburgh enjoyed most of the first possession, but couldn't breach the visitors defence. Chris Patterson's penalty on six minutes was all they had to show at half time, despite their full back also hitting the post from a 40 metre effort, and Phil Godman's missed drop goal attempt.
The Blues were lucky not to concede a try early on as the Scottish side fumbled over the try line, and instead went in just 3-0 down at the break.
Simon Webster broke the deadlock early in the second half, pouncing on a well weighted grubber kick from Godman, with Patterson converting.
Cardiff then lost scrum half Ritchie Rees to the sin bin following a purposeful knock on, preventing Simon Webster from getting to the Blues line. That seemed to signal the end of Cardiff's chances, and so Young hauled off Leigh Halfpenny, Nicky Robinson and Paul Tito before 60 minutes, ensuring their involvement in Saturday's massive fixture.
Ban Blair, who stayed on all match, found the visitors first and ultimately only points of the match from a long range penalty, but two drop goals from Patterson and replacement fly half Blair prevented Cardiff from ever getting back into the game, or taking a bonus point back to Wales.
Full Time
Edinburgh 16
Cardiff Blues 3
Blair, Halfpenny, J. Robinson, J. Roberts, Czekaj, N. Robinson, Rees, Yapp, T. Thomas, G. Powell, Davies, Tito, White, Sowden-Taylor, Warburton.
Mustoe for Halfpenny (52),Sweeney for N. Robinson (60), Allinson for Rees (70), Filise for G. Powell (61), D. Jones for Tito (58), Morgan for Warburton (61).
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