Warren Gatland's focus over the next week will be on finishing the Six Nations with a strong performance in Paris.
But once the final whistle is blown at Stade de France, Gatland will immediately turn his attention towards the Rugby World Cup.
The New Zealander will have two months of uninterrupted access to his players in the lead-up to rugby's showpiece event, along with three warm-up Tests against England (twice) and South Africa.
With regards the World Cup, Gatland is limited to a 33-man squad, but historically he has always named an extended party in the build-up.
We take a look at the players outside the Six Nations squad who could force their way into World Cup contention:
Will Rowlands
There were doubts over whether Wales' men's player of the year in 2022 would be eligible to figure at the World Cup given he has committed his future to French giants Racing 92. With the Welsh Rugby Union's selection rule being reduced from 60 caps to 25, Rowlands (who is on 23) should be all set to go should he play in the warm-up matches.
The 31-year-old lock is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury but is expected to return for the Dragons in April. Put simply: if the former Wasps man is fit, he walks into Gatland's starting XV.
There are many who question the lack of dynamism and power in the front five but the return of Rowlands will undoubtedly go a long way to fixing these issues.
Dewi Lake
The loss of the Ospreys hooker to a knee injury on the eve of the Six Nations was a bigger blow than most people anticipated. Given he currently holds the captaincy, it's safe to assume Ken Owens will be Gatland's first choice until the conclusion of the World Cup.
But the prospect of Lake coming off the bench with 20 minutes to go is a warming thought. At 6ft 1inch and 17st 4lbs, Lake has the physical attributes to make a real mark on the international circuit.
In his eight caps to date, there have been more pros than cons with his dynamic carrying, work at the breakdown and relentless defence of huge benefit to Wales.
Lake is the type of physical specimen Gatland would dearly love in his front five with his work at the breakdown not too dissimilar to world-class Springboks hooker Malcolm Marx. His throwing in at the lineout needs to improve if the 23-year-old is to take the next step but he is a shoe-in for Gatland's World Cup squad.
Gareth Anscombe
Dan Biggar has held the Wales fly-half shirt in an iron grip for the best part of a decade, with Gareth Anscombe the only genuine threat he has faced.
Cast your minds back to Wales' 2019 Six Nations Grand Slam-winning campaign and it was Anscombe who was pulling the strings at outside-half, with Biggar used a replacement in the final quarter to see the game out.
A severe ACL injury in a warm-up Test against England at Twickenham ruled Anscombe out of the 2019 World Cup, with Gatland quick to emphasise how significant a loss the Ospreys man was to Wales' chances.
"That was the first time in my whole time that I felt we really missed a player and that was Gareth Anscombe. He was a big loss for us," said Gatland shortly after the World Cup. "I just felt that the balance we had with Anscombe and Biggar beforehand, they complemented each other really well. They're different types of players and you're able to use them differently and use your strengths differently. It was the first time in my entire coaching career I felt that the loss of one player had a real effect."
History is in danger of repeating itself with the 31-year-old facing a race against time to make the World Cup after sustaining a shoulder injury. He is expected back in August, just one month before the World Cup kicks off, but it would be a surprise if Gatland didn't take a gamble on the talented playmaker.
Johnny Williams
Scarlets centre Johnny Williams fits the mould of what Gatland has historically plumped for at inside centre, usually opting for 12s who can get over the gain-line and put his sides on the front foot in a similar fashion to Jamie Roberts.
Williams has been plagued by a series of injuries since pledging his allegiance to Wales by joining the Scarlets but he has shown glimpses of what he is capable of. The 26-year-old made an impressive return from injury in the Scarlets' heroic defeat in Munster a week ago and will be hoping he can stay fit to press his claim for more international honours.
Williams is a big man who can put his side on the front foot, while he is also an explosive runner with a turn of pace and a subtle passing game. Joe Hawkins and Mason Grady are likely to be Wales' long-term centre pairing but Williams could be a better short-term option for Gatland.
Cory Hill
WalesOnline understands Gatland is very keen to bring the 32-cap Cory Hill back into the Wales fold. The former Dragons and Cardiff star left Welsh rugby under a dark cloud after being involved in an unsavoury incident, along with two other men, which resulted in a woman's home getting damaged.
His move to Japan initially made him ineligible to play for Wales under the then 60-cap rule but after it was reduced to 25 caps last week, Hill is now an option Gatland could select for the World Cup in France this autumn.
Given Wales' frailty up-front, selecting Hill could go a long way to fixing these issues. The athletic and dynamic second-row currently plies his trade for Yokohama Cannon Eagles in Japan, but is a target for Top 14 clubs Bordeaux and Castres.
You can bet your bottom dollar on Hill being involved in Wales' pre World Cup training camp, and if he is the same player who left Cardiff in 2021, then he is a serious option to take to France, taking into account his athleticism, physicality and lineout prowess.
Jake Ball
The loss of former Scarlets second-row Jake Ball to Japanese club Green Rockets Tokatsu in 2021 was a seismic blow to Welsh rugby. Ball never got the credit he deserved in Wales but he was an integral figure in the successes of the last few years of Gatland's first stint in charge of the national side.
The 31-year-old was well-respected among his teammates and was one of the only genuine tight carriers Wales had at their disposal, while he was often credited for his scrummaging.
Ball has 50 caps for Wales, making him eligible for the World Cup should he wish to be selected, but that is a big if given he left Welsh rugby to spend more time with his wife and children.
However, if Gatland could add Will Rowlands, Cory Hill and Ball into the mix it would significantly strengthen Wales' front five, and their chances of competing in France. It's a long shot but Gatland could do a lot worse than persuading Ball to return for one last hurrah.
Taine Basham
The 23-year-old was a regular during Wayne Pivac's stint in charge but failed to make Gatland's Six Nations squad. That is probably owing to the ridiculous strength in depth Wales have at openside flanker, with the likes of Justin Tipuric, Jac Morgan and Tommy Reffell all fighting for one jersey.
One advantage Basham does have is he can play across the whole back-row, while he also offers a different dimension to the three aforementioned players.
The Dragons star is not an out-and-out fetcher like Reffell, but he is an explosive carrier who is comfortable both in the tight and the wide channels.
He is also a clever footballer with his offloading game, and tip-on passes from the point of contact a big plus point. It would be a shock if he wasn't included in Gatland's extended World Cup squad but he faces an uphill battle to make the final cut.
Ross Moriarty
The absence of Moriarty in Gatland's Six Nations squad was a real head-scratcher, especially given Wales have lacked a physical presence up-front.
Dragons blindside Moriarty, who is also comfortable at No. 8, is the sort of no-nonsense forward Wales desperately need. Moriarty's work rate is relentless, with his destructive defence along with his carrying in the tight quarters a big positive.
Gatland hasn't quite nailed the balance of his back-row yet with only Taulupe Faletau guaranteed of his place, but Moriarty should be seriously considered.
Dan Lydiate
Lydiate was an integral part of Gatland's success during his first tenure as head coach, forming a formidable back-row partnership with Sam Warburton and Faletau.
He may be approaching the end of his career but the 35-year-old was totemic on Wales' tour of South Africa last summer, playing an integral role in securing a first ever Test victory over the Springboks in their own backyard.
The Ospreys man was arguably the best defensive player in world rugby during his pomp, with his work rate relentless. He is the sort of player who does all the dirty work to allow others to shine.
But the questions which need to be asked are how much has he got left in the tank and can his body take any more punishment?
Sam Costelow
The Scarlets playmaker made his Wales debut last autumn and is undoubtedly a star of the future. He may be small in stature but the 22-year-old is a commanding figure on the field with game management a big strength of his.
Costelow is a talented footballer with a great deal of peripheral vision who can get his back-line going, while he also has a strong kicking game. He has the potential to become Wales' first-choice 10 but the World Cup might come too soon for him.
Nicky Smith
Loosehead prop is an area of strength for Wales with the likes of Wyn Jones, Gareth Thomas and Rhys Carre vying for a place in Gatland's starting XV. But the form loosehead in Welsh rugby, if not British rugby, over the past year has been Ospreys star Nicky Smith.
The 28-year-old is a destructive scrummager, recently taking both the Montpellier and Leicester Tigers scrums apart, while he is also effective over the ball. For one reason or another he has fallen down the Wales pecking order but at the very least he deserves a spot in Gatland's extended squad to show what he can do.
READ MORE:
The Wales changes Warren Gatland is likely to make for France finale and the players under threat
Emotional Rhys Webb puts down massive World Cup marker as he finally hopes to lay ghosts to rest
Rome defined how this Wales team are going to play through to the World Cup and it's Warrenball
The unseen Italy v Wales moments as players find their voices to heal talk of split
