Williams will get some much-needed game time against France

The Ospreys and Lions star, 30, has been out of action this summer after elbow and shoulder surgery.

Dafydd James makes way, with Mark Jones switching wings, while Jamie Robinson is in at centre for Tom Shanklin, but fly-half Stephen Jones remains injured.

There is one change in the pack, with Adam Jones making way for Chris Horsman who starts at tight-head prop.

Ospreys prop Jones has an ankle injury so sits out completely, with the Blues' Gethin Jenkins covering both sides of the scrum from the bench.

Llanelli Scarlets fly-half Jones has still not recovered from the groin problem that has sidelined him throughout August.

It will be easier to add different players once the team has developed Wales coach Gareth Jenkins

The injury cost him Wales' World Cup captaincy - Gareth Thomas reclaiming the armband - while his number 10 spot is under increasing threat from James Hook.

Coach Gareth Jenkins has opted to make as few changes as possible from last Saturday's 27-20 win over Argentina, with just three changes in personnel and one positional switch.

"We have a lot of work still to do and we must concentrate on developing our style of play," Jenkins said.

"But we are very much looking for a repeat result from last weekend coupled with an improved performance.

"There are obviously things we need to work on and we have undergone in-depth analysis of our performance against Argentina with a view to improving ourselves against France."

After the record defeat away to England three weeks ago in Wales' first World Cup warm-up, Jenkins vowed to field his strongest team.

The likelihood is that the XV that runs out at the Millennium Stadium against Les Bleus will largely be the one that faces Canada on 9 September in Wales' opening World Cup pool match.

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But Jenkins says there is still the possibility for players to put themselves forward for a starting berth.

"We are at the sharp end of the coaching process and have maintained a consistency of selection in order to allow this side to develop its style," Jenkins said.

"That is not to say that there is no room for players to break into this side, but it will be easier to add different players once the team has developed the collective understanding we are looking for."

While Llanelli Scarlets wing James has played well in Williams' absence, the little Osprey flyer has a fine record of 29 tries from 46 caps and when fully fit would be one of the first names on the Wales team-sheet.

"Shane Williams has a chance to remind us what he has to offer after reaching full fitness and, although Dafydd James is perhaps unlucky to miss out on this occasion, we are all looking forward to seeing what Shane can produce," Jenkins added.

After Wales open their World Cup campaign against the Maple Leaves at the La Beaujoire Stadium in Nantes, they then have two matches on home turf.

The squad will return to Cardiff for Millennium Stadium games against Australia (15 September) and Japan (20 September), with the final pool game against Fiji back in Nantes (29 September).

Wales: Kevin Morgan (Dragons); Mark Jones (Scarlets), Jamie Robinson (Blues), Gareth Thomas (Blues, capt), Shane Williams (Ospreys); James Hook (Ospreys), Dwayne Peel (Scarlets); Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Chris Horsman (Worcester), Ian Gough (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Martyn Williams (Blues), Alix Popham (Scarlets).
Replacements: T Rhys Thomas (Blues), Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Will James (Gloucester), Colin Charvis (Dragons), Michael Phillips (Ospreys), Ceri Sweeney (Dragons), Sonny Parker (Ospreys).