Mike Phillips will start at scrum-half for Wales in their autumn Test opener against New Zealand on Saturday. The Cardiff Blues 23-year-old is a surprise choice ahead of Lions tourist Gareth Cooper for the spot left vacant by Dwayne Peel's ankle injury.
Worcester prop Chris Horsman, newly qualified for Wales, is on the bench and looks set to win his first cap.
Flanker Martyn Williams sits out after a family bereavement, and Colin Charvis fills the open-side role instead.
Charvis missed last season's Grand Slam campaign through injury, although he toured North America in the summer.
The Newcastle Falcon forms a back row triumvirate with Michael Owen and Jon Thomas, whose recent form for the Ospreys earns a starting berth.
Phillips impressed during Wales' summer tour to North America, while the centre partnership of Ceri Sweeney and Mark Taylor was forged on that trip.
 |  Mike has been ever-present for the Blues and has very much played himself into the side |
"Mike was a vital member of our squad during the Six Nations last season, when Gareth Cooper was out injured," said Wales coach Mike Ruddock.
"He has earned a place in the starting line-up based on those performances and the form he has showed both in North America and for Cardiff Blues in recent matches.
"Gareth is a great player, but is returning from ankle surgery and therefore hasn't played much rugby recently, whereas Mike has been ever-present for the Blues and has very much played himself into the side."
The withdrawals of Peel and Williams mean that Ruddock is without six players who toured with the British and Irish Lions to New Zealand.
Wales were already without injury victims Gavin Henson, Tom Shanklin, Ryan Jones and Gethin Jenkins.
Porthcawl-based Horsman, who has recently qualified for Wales on residency grounds, is currently suspended after being cited for stamping during a Guinness Premiership game earlier this month.
But the ban expires on Friday, making Horsman available for Saturday's Millennium Stadium showdown.
Alongside the Worcester player on the bench is Scarlets full-back Lee Byrne, the only other uncapped player named in Ruddock's autumn squad.
"Chris and Lee both joined us this week and have settled in well," Ruddock added.
"Given the magnitude and intensity of the clash it is possible that both will win their first caps for Wales on Saturday."
Wales, who have not beaten New Zealand since 1953, are on an eight-match unbeaten run which stretches back to last November - when they lost by a point to the All Blacks.
Wales: G Thomas (Toulouse, capt); K Morgan (Dragons), M Taylor (Sale), C Sweeney (Dragons), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Clermont-Auvergne), M Phillips (Blues); D Jones (Ospreys), M Davies (Gloucester), A Jones (Ospreys), B Cockbain (Ospreys), R Sidoli (Blues), J Thomas (Ospreys), C Charvis (Newcastle), M Owen (Dragons).
Replacements: R Thomas (Blues), C Horsman (Worcester), L Charteris (Dragons), R Sowden-Taylor (Blues), G Cooper (Dragons), N Robinson (Blues), L Byrne (Scarlets).
New Zealand: M Muliaina (Auckland); R Gear (Nelsons Bay), C Smith (Wellington), T Umaga (Wellington, capt), J Rokocoko (Auckland); D Carter (Canterbury), B Kelleher (Waikato); N Tialata (Wellington), A Oliver (Otago), C Hayman (Otago), C Jack (Canterbury), J Ryan (Otago), J Collins (Wellington), C Masoe (Taranaki), R So'oialo (Wellington).
Replacements: A Hore (Taranaki), T Woodcock (North Harbour), A Macdonald (Auckland), R McCaw (Canterbury), J Cowan (Southland), M Nonu (Wellington), L MacDonald (Canterbury).
MMIX
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