Gethin Jenkins will lead Wales in their RBS 6 Nations match against Italy at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday with squad captain and Cardiff Blues teammate, Sam Warburton, ruled out of contention with a knee problem.
In one of two changes, both up front, to the starting line-up which beat England to lift the Triple Crown at Twickenham last time out, Blues open-side flanker Warburton is replaced by fellow back row specialist Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) who wins his fourth cap, but makes his first start for Wales.
Jenkins is joined in the side by Blues' representatives, Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert and Jamie Roberts, and all four along with Warburton will be expected to play in the Heineken Cup quarter-final against reigning champions, Leinster Rugby, at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, 7 April.
Former squad captain Matthew Rees will pack down at hooker between fellow 2009 British and Irish Lions props Jenkins and Adam Jones (Ospreys) to win his 49th cap, replacing fellow Scarlet Ken Owens who moves to the bench.
In the backs a rapid return from injury for Roberts (knee) means Wales are able to field the same back line for the fourth match running.
There are three changes on the bench with Owens replacing Ospreys hooker Richard Hibbard and Dragons lock Luke Charteris, who completed his return from a wrist injury for his region on Friday, in for the promoted Tipuric. Perpignan fly-half James Hook, now fully recovered from the illness (chicken pox) which meant he was a last minute withdrawal last week in London, returns to the bench in place of Scarlets playmaker Stephen Jones.
Blues prop Jenkins wins his 86th cap having led Wales three times already, the first time against South Africa in November 2007 when he became the 125th Welsh captain, and he takes charge of a side victorious in its last three matches and leading the Championship table with just two weekends of action left.