The battle lines have been drawn ahead of Saturday's much-anticipated Six Nations showdown between England and Wales after Eddie Jones confirmed his line-up.
The Twickenham hosts were always expected to make changes after a 33-0 romp over Italy in the second round, with four new faces coming into the XV in time for this weekend.
Among those, Manu Tuilagi 's return is the major headline after being deemed worthy of a starting spot, ready to make his first Test appearance since injuring his hamstring in the November win over South Africa.
He'll partner Henry Slade in midfield in what will be considered a major boost for the hosts, while Courtney Lawes is set to make his first appearance of this year's competition off the bench/at blindside flanker.
Lawes has also reclaimed England's captaincy after Sale's Tom Curry led the side during the first two rounds, coming into the back row while Maro Itoje moves back to lock at the expense of Nick Isiekwe.
Kyle Sinckler returns at tighthead prop and will make his 50th England appearance, while Luke Cowan-Dickie replaces Jamie George at hooker.
Elsewhere, scrum-half Ben Youngs is set to become England's most capped player of all time as he prepares for his 115th international appearance off the bench on Saturday.
Leicester Tigers veteran Youngs, 32, tied level with joint-record-holder Jason Leonard on 114 caps after appearing off the bench against Italy, but he'll be recognised as the new standard-bearer at Twickenham.
"We’ve prepared very well for this game, the squad have really come together on and off the pitch," said Jones ahead of Saturday's crunch encounter. "Wales are a good, tough side and Six Nations champions and it will make for an exciting Test match in front of a full Twickenham crowd.
"We’ve got a talented, young, hungry squad who have trained with real intensity this week. We’re ready to go at them and can’t wait to play in front of our supporters again.
"It will also be a special match with two significant milestones for Ben and Kyle. Both have made outstanding contributions to English rugby so far in their careers. We congratulate them and we know there is more to come ahead for them."
Marcus Smith will get his firs taste of this fixture at fly-half and hopes to maintain his prolific start to his maiden Six Nations, having scored a try in each of his appearances thus far in the competition.
Wales clinched a convincing 40-24 win over rivals England when they hosted en route to last year's Six Nations crown, though Saturday's guests haven't won at Twickenham since the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
It's an even longer wait since Wales last won at Headquarters in the Six Nations, however, with this third-round clash falling a decade and a day after their Twickenham triumph in the 2012 tournament.
England held off a late surge to edge Wayne Pivac's men 33-30 when they last met in London two years ago, which turned out to be a positive omen as Jones & Co. went on to claim that year's title.
Both teams will see this as a tournament-defining fixture having each got off the mark with wins in the second round, with England desperate to make up for last year's fifth-place finish against the titleholders.
England team vs. Wales
(Backs) Freddie Steward; Max Malins, Henry Slade, Manu Tuilagi, Jack Nowell; Marcus Smith, Harry Randall; (Forwards) Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Kyle Sinckler; Charlie Ewels, Maro Itoje; Courtney Lawes (capt), Tom Curry, Alex Dombrandt.
Reps : Jamie George, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Nick Isiekwe, Sam Simmonds, Ben Youngs, George Ford, Elliot Daly.
