Wales coach Warren Gatland has been forced into a late change ahead of their Triple Crown showdown with Ireland after hooker Huw Bennett was struck down by flu.
Bennett was withdrawn late this morning and replaced by Matthew Rees, with the uncapped Cardiff Blues hooker Gareth Williams promoted onto the bench.
The loss of Bennett, who has been a more reliable lineout operator than Rees this season, was an untimely blow to Welsh hopes of winning the Triple Crown.
The build-up to the match had been dominated by Gatland's return to Dublin to lock horns with Eddie O'Sullivan, the man who replaced him as Ireland coach in controversial circumstances seven years ago.
Wales come into the game unbeaten, top of the Six Nations table and in the box seat to win the title - but an Ireland victory will keep championship aspirations alive.
O'Sullivan was forced to move Rob Kearney to fullback after Geordan Murphy and Girvan Dempsey were both ruled out through injury on Thursday.
Shane Horgan was promoted to the starting line-up and Tommy Bowe switched to the less familiar left wing while lock Paul O'Connell and hooker Rory Best returned to the pack.
Speaking before the game O'Sullivan said his side needed to control the pace of the game and deny Wales the space their game needs.
"Well, I think we've got to be selective when we go to the line, it's a very aggressive defence and you have got to pick your moments and try and go through them rather than try and go round them," the coach told RTE.
"We're going to have to control the tempo of the game. We know the Welsh will thrive on a quick, open and flowing game. And certainly if we let them into that mode it's going to be a difficult day, so we have got to manage that aspect of the game as much as anything else."
Gatland's major selection decision was to retain Stephen Jones at outhalf ahead of James Hook and start with Mike Phillips instead of Dwayne Peel at scrumhalf.
