Josh Adams has been handed a new role by Wales boss Wayne Pivac and will start a Test match at outside centre for the first time against Ireland on Saturday (2.15pm kick-off).
Pivac had hoped to deploy Adams in his new role during the autumn campaign but the plans were scuppered when 26-year-old pulled up in the warm-up.
But he will now get the chance to run out one position in from his usual slot on the wing, having been picked ahead of Owen Watkin and Jonathan Davies.
He partners Nick Tompkins in the midfield and there is no place for Willis Halaholo, whose creativity will be missed. The Cardiff man had been battling a hamstring strain this week.
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Elsewhere, Ellis Jenkins keeps his position in the No. 6 jersey, with Ross Moriarty taking a place on the bench, poised to come on for his first Test appearance since injuring his shoulder last autumn.
The abrasive Taine Basham, making his first Six Nations appearance, and Aaron Wainwright complete the back row.
In the front five, the towering Will Rowlands partners vice-captain Adam Beard at lock, with Ryan Elias joined by Wyn Jones and Tomas Francis in the front row.
Tomos Williams partners captain Dan Biggar at half-back and Johnny McNicholl has been placed on the wing, with Liam Williams getting the No. 15 jersey and Louis Rees-Zammit completing a potent back three.
Dewi Lake, whose physicality has caught Pivac's eye, is poised to make his Wales debut from the bench.
"We’ve selected Josh Adams at 13. It’s something we’ve been thinking about for a while," Wales boss Pivac said.
"He’s done it in training and in small doses at the end of a game. We think this is a golden opportunity to answer that question.
"Really pleased for Ross. We think coming off the bench he’ll make an impact, so that’s why we’ve gone that way.
"Really happy for Dewi. He’s a big man, a very good rugby player. Strong over the ball and gives us something in defence as well as his attacking prowess.
"Ireland are a very, very tough, very physical side. So we know we’re going to have to step up in that area of the game and make sure we do that for 80 mins. We’ve got to be very disciplined and as a result be in there fighting for the right result."
As for the hosts, Johnny Sexton captains Ireland from fly-half alongside No. 9 Jamison Gibson Park, with Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose linking up at centre.
Uncapped Connacht wing Mack Hansen starts, with full-back Hugo Keenan and winger Andrew Conway completing the back-three.
The front row features Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong, with Tadhg Beirne and James Ryan pairing at lock. Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan are named in the back-row.
The replacements bench is made up of Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Ryan Baird, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery and James Hume.
Wales: 15. Liam Williams, 14. Johnny McNicholl, 13. Josh Adams, 12. Nick Tompkins, 11. Louis Rees-Zammit, 10. Dan Biggar (capt), 9. Tomos Williams, 1. Wyn Jones, 2. Ryan Elias, 3. Tomas Francis, 4. Will Rowlands, 5. Adam Beard, 6. Ellis Jenkins, 7. Taine Basham, 8. Aaron Wainwright.
Replacements: 16. Dewi Lake, 17. Gareth Thomas, 18. Dillon Lewis, 19. Seb Davies, 20. Ross Moriarty, 21. Gareth Davies, 22. Callum Sheedy, 23. Owen Watkin.
Ireland: 15. Hugo Keenan, 14. Andrew Conway, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Bundee Aki, 11. Mack Hansen, 10. Johnny Sexton (capt), 9. Jamison Gibson Park, 1. Andrew Porter, 2. Ronan Kelleher, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Tadhg Beirne, 5. James Ryan, 6. Caelan Doris, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Jack Conan.
Replacements: 16. Dan Sheehan, 17. Cian Healy, 18. Finlay Bealham, 19. Ryan Baird, 20. Peter O’Mahony, 21. Conor Murray, 22. Joey Carbery, 23. James Hume.
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