Wales have made four changes, plus one positional, to the side that was narrowly defeated at Twickenham for this weekend’s return home match with England.
In the backs Perpignan-bound James Hook replaces Scarlets full back Morgan Stoddart, who left the field with a broken leg during the second half of Wales’ 23-19 loss in London, and the unattached Gavin Henson returns replacing another Scarlet, centre Jonathan Davies.
Henson is given the inside centre berth and forms a midfield partnership with Jamie Roberts (Blues), who makes the positional switch to take up the outside centre spot vacated by Davies.
Up front Dragons duo, hooker Lloyd Burns and second row Luke Charteris, are given the chance to pick up where they left off last weekend, impressing after coming on from the bench, with Burns making his first start in a Wales shirt.
On the bench there is no room for the displaced Scarlets centre Davies this week or for Blues lock Bradley Davies, who made way for Charteris.
Ryan Jones is also missing after picking up a calf problem which means Scarlets back row Josh Turnbull and uncapped Ospreys flanker Justin Tipuric could both be handed chances to stake a claim for RWC selection.
Huw Bennett provides the front row cover in a straight swap with starter Burns, alongside fellow Osprey, Ryan Bevington (prop).
Scarlets pair Tavis Knoyle (scrum-half) and Scott Williams (centre) are also retained to provide cover for the backs with Dragons wing Aled Brew joining them in place of Blues scrum-half (and the travelling 23rd man at Twickenham last week) Lloyd Williams.
Head coach Warren Gatland said: “We need the win this weekend – it’s as simple as that.
“We’ve told the players that, for us to be regarded as contenders at the Rugby World Cup we need to beat England at home this weekend, to send out that message to everyone that we are contenders.
“We have the toughest Pool at the tournament and in less than a month’s time we will be facing South Africa in our opening match. It is vitally important that we go into that match with the sound of Welsh fans ringing in our ears, fans who have cheered us on to victories in the final two matches of our warm-up campaign against England and against Argentina next week.
“We have retained the majority of the side who travelled to London last week and told them that we want more of the same. There are one or two players we have brought in to have a look at but the reason we have deliberately not made wholesale changes is that we need to win this game and we believe these are the players who can do that.”
WALES: James Hook; George North, Jamie Roberts, Gavin Henson, Shane Williams; Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips; Paul James, Lloyd Burns, Craig Mitchell, Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (Captain), Toby Faletau.
Replacements: Huw Bennett, Ryan Bevington, Josh Turnbull, Justin Tipuric, Tavis Knoyle, Scott Williams, Aled Brew