Former rugby league star Iestyn Harris will replace injured fly-half Stephen Jones in the Wales team for Saturday's Six Nations opener against Italy.
Harris, who has won 10 caps since quitting Leeds Rhinos for Cardiff, is one of six changes from the side beaten 43-17 by New Zealand in November.
Four players are sidelined through injury - Jones, centres Jamie Robinson and Sonny Parker, plus hooker Robin McBryde.
Wales coach Steve Hansen has plugged the gaps by forging a new centre partnership of Llanelli captain Leigh Davies and Saracens' Tom Shanklin; Mefin Davies takes over from McBryde.
It will be Leigh Davies's first Test match appearance since the home defeat against Ireland in 2001.
Two other changes are both in the pack, where Northampton lock Steve Williams replaces 71-times-capped Gareth Llewellyn and Pontypridd flanker Michael Owen edges out Llanelli's Dafydd Jones.
There is no place for Swansea full-back Kevin Morgan, who looked to be back to his best following injury, with Cardiff's Rhys Williams keeping the No 15 shirt.
Also missing out is Williams's club colleague Craig Morgan, whose poor form sees Mark Jones and Gareth Thomas claim the wing berths.
Hansen's replacements include three uncapped players - Bridgend hooker Gareth Williams, Pontypridd fly-half Ceri Sweeney and Llanelli centre Matthew Watkins.
Wales team
15 Rhys Williams (Cardiff), 14 Mark Jones (Llanelli), 13 Tom Shanklin (Saracens/Eng), 12 Leigh Davies (Lllanelli), 11 Gareth Thomas (Bridgend), 10 Iestyn Harris (Cardiff), 9 Dwayne Peel (Llanelli), 8 Colin Charvis (Swansea, capt), 7 Martyn Williams (Cardiff), 6 Michael Owen (Pontypridd), 5 Steve Williiams (Northampton/Eng), 4 Robert Sidoli (Pontypridd), 3 Ben Evans (Swansea), 2 Mefin Davies (Pontypridd), 1 Iestyn Thomas (Llanelli)
Replacements:Gareth Williams (Bridgend), Gethin Jenkins (Pontypridd), Dafydd Jones (Llanelli), Gavin Thomas (Bath/Eng), Gareth Cooper (Bath/Eng), Ceri Sweeney (Pontypridd), Matthew Watkins (Llanelli)
PA