Kevin Morgan has been recalled to the Wales side to face Italy in Saturday's Six Nations clash after making a swift recovery from a fractured jaw.
Morgan suffered the injury in Wales' defeat to Scotland last month and after undergoing an operation he was not expected to resume full contact work until next week.
He now replaces Lee Byrne at fullback in an otherwise unchanged starting XV from the defeat to France in Paris.
Winger Mark Jones and prop Chris Horsman have recovered from rib and ankle injuries and are both included in the side, while Gareth Thomas returns from a four-week suspension on the bench.
Thomas has not played rugby since appearing as a replacement in Toulouse's fractious Heineken Cup win over Ulster on January 21st.
The former Wales captain was banned by a European Rugby Cup disciplinary panel for aggressive behaviour towards the Ulster spectators during the game.
The return of Thomas means Ceri Sweeney and Jamie Robinson, a tryscorer against France in Paris, drop out of the squad.
Jenkins anticipates a testing battle with Italy's powerful pack and has named two props on the bench. Adam Jones and Duncan Jones are joined by lock Brent Cockbain and versatile forward Jonathan Thomas.
Head coach Gareth Jenkins said: "Kevin (Morgan) is delighted to be given the all clear ahead of Saturday. We had been hoping he would recover in time to make the Italy game and it's a welcome boost to us all to have someone of his calibre - and in his current form - available to play.
"Gareth will also strengthen the squad and he takes his place on the bench more than ready to make his return after seven weeks of no rugby.
"But he's been training hard and has all the experience necessary to make an impact if called upon.
"The Italians probably have the strongest scrum in the Six Nations and there is a certain amount of horses for courses in selection to reflect that.
"We've gone for a five forwards, two backs split on the bench to give us front row cover which means we've had to get the balance right.
The game is being billed as a wooden spoon decided after Wales suffered their third straight defeat of the championship against France in Paris.
Italy secured their first away win of the championship against Scotland and Jenkins expects a tough afternoon in Rome.
"We turned up with a much improved performance against France and we will be concentrating on our own game against Italy," he said. "We need to continue to improve as we work towards the World Cup."
WALES XV (versus Italy):K Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons); M Jones, (Llanelli Scarlets), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), J Hook (Ospreys), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Llanelli Scarlets, captain), D Peel (Llanelli Scarlets); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Rees (Llanelli Scarlets), C Horsman (Worcester), I Gough (Newport Gwent Dragons), A-W Jones (Ospreys), A Popham (Llanelli Scarlets), M WIlliams (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys).
Replacements:R Thomas (Cardiff Blues), D Jones (Ospreys), A Jones (Ospreys), B Cockbain (Ospreys), J Thomas (Ospreys), M Phillips (Cardiff Blues), G Thomas (Toulouse).
