Warren Gatland has made four changes to the team who chalked up a record home 47-8 victory over Italy 10 days ago for the RBS Six Nations clash against Ireland at Croke Park on Saturday.
Gatland takes his unbeaten Wales to contest the Triple Crown at their inaugural outing at Irish rugby's temporary home in Dublin.
Mike Phillips has been reinstated at scrum half with Dwayne Peel moving to the bench in the only change to the back division, meaning outside half Stephen Jones is set to win his 69th cap boasting an all-time points tally just five points short of the 600 mark.
In the front row both Huw Bennett at hooker and prop Adam Jones are recalled and Alun-Wyn Jones has recovered from injury to take up his place in the second row in the final change to the starting line-up.
On the bench Duncan Jones and Matthew Rees provide front row cover with Rhys Thomas missing out, Ian Evans edges out Deiniol Jones and Gareth Delve retains his spot. James Hook and Sonny Parker join Peel to provide cover for the backs.
"A number of players have had a run-out for us in the first three games of the championship and selection in most areas could be put down to the toss of a coin which is testament to the effort the guys have put in," said Gatland.
"We have had to make a judgement call at scrum half, in the front row and in the second row, but it really is a close call for us in each of those positions as well as elsewhere in the team.
"Ireland are a fantastic side. They have been a top five team in world rugby for a number of years and we have an opportunity to measure ourselves and find out where we are.
"We go there as underdogs - they have lost only one game themselves, in the dying minutes against France - and Croke Park will be an intimidating place but we must not be daunted by the task at hand.
"You only have to look at the number of caps they have throughout the side to recognise they will be a major force to be reckoned with and in Ronan O'Gara they have someone who can direct the game and really hurt opponents.
"If we don't keep a tight rein on him it could be a long day for us. We will be showing Ronan and his side the utmost respect.
"We are in a great position going for a Triple Crown, which would be nice, but the most important thing to us is the championship. The Triple Crown would be the icing on the cake, but at this stage we just need to make sure our performance is where we want it to be and take it from there."
Shane Williams has scored 10 tries in his last seven Tests and needs one try to equal Gareth Thomas' Wales record of 40 tries.
WALES: Lee Byrne; Mark Jones, Tom Shanklin, Gavin Henson, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Huw Bennett, Adam Jones, Ian Gough, Alun-Wyn Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Martyn Williams, Ryan Jones (captain).
REPLACEMENTS: Matthew Rees, Duncan Jones, Ian Evans, Gareth Delve, Dwayne Peel, James Hook, Sonny Parker.
WALES
15 Lee BYRNE (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,041)
DoB: 01.06.80. 6'3" / 1.91m. 15st 4lbs / 97kgs
International record: 17 caps (W 6, L 10, D 1; 25 pts - 5T)
14 Mark JONES (LLANELLI SCARLETS - Cap No 984)
DoB: 07.11.79. 6'2" / 1.88m. 14st 5lbs / 91kgs
International record: 37 caps (W 15, L 20, D 2; 60 pts - 12T)
13 Tom SHANKLIN (CARDIFF BLUES - Cap No 993)
DoB: 24.11.79. 6'2" / 1.88m. 15st 9lbs / 99kgs
International record: 50 caps (W 23, L 26, D 1; 90 pts - 18T)
12 Gavin HENSON (OSPREYS - Cap No 990)
DoB: 01.02.82. 6'0" / 1.83m. 15st 7lbs / 98kgs
International record: 26 caps (W 14, L 11, D 1; 130 pts - 3T, 29C, 18PG, 1DG)
11 Shane WILLIAMS (OSPREYS - Cap No 976)
DoB: 26.02.77. 5'7" / 1.71m. 12st 13lbs / 82kgs
International record: 54 caps (W 27, L 25, D 2; 195 pts - 39T)
10 Stephen JONES (LLANELLI SCARLETS - Cap No 966)
DoB: 08.12.77. 6'1" / 1.86m. 14st 12lbs / 94kgs
International record: 68 caps (W30, L36, D2; 595 pts - 6T, 110C, 112PG, 3DG)
9 Michael PHILLIPS (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,022)
DoB: 29.08.82. 6'3" / 1.91m. 16st 4lbs / 103kgs
International record: 31 caps (W 15, L 15, D 1; 20 pts - 4T)
1 Gethin JENKINS (CARDIFF BLUES - Cap No 1,006)
DoB: 17.11.80. 6'2" / 1.88m. 18st 9lbs / 118kgs
International record: 56 caps (W 23, L 31, D 2; 15 pts - 3T)
2 Huw BENNETT (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,017)
DoB: 11.06.83. 6'0" / 1.83m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 17 caps (W 10, L 7)
3 Adam Rhys JONES (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,018)
DoB: 08.03.81. 6'0" / 1.83m. 20st 5lb / 129kgs
International record: 46 caps (W 24, L 20, D 2; 5 pts - 1T)
4 Ian GOUGH (OSPREYS - Cap No 964)
DoB: 10.11.76. 6' 6" / 1.98m. 18st 9lbs / 118kgs
International record: 48 caps (W 21, L 24, D 3; 5 pts - 1T)
5 Alun-Wyn JONES (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,046)
DoB: 19.09.85. 6'5" / 1.96m. 18st 9lbs / 118kgs
International record: 19 caps (W 7, L 12; 15 pts - 3T)
6 Jonathan THOMAS (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,013)
DoB: 27.12.82. 6'5" / 1.96m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 42 caps (W 20, L 20, D 2; 35 pts - 7T)
7 Martyn WILLIAMS (CARDIFF BLUES - Cap No 944)
DoB: 01.09.75. 6'0" / 1.83m. 15st 13lbs / 101kgs
International record: 79 caps (W 36, L 40, D 3; 68 pts - 13T, 1DG)
8 Ryan JONES (OSPREYS, CAPTAIN - Cap No 1,029)
DoB: 13.03.81. 6'5" / 1.96m. 18st 0lbs / 114kgs
International record: 19 caps (W 11, L 7, D 1; 5 pts - 1T)
REPLACEMENTS
16 Matthew REES (LLANELLI SCARLETS - Cap No 1,033)
DoB: 09.12.80. 6'0" / 1.83m. 16st 9lbs / 106kgs
International record: 19 caps (W 8, L 10, D 1; 10 pts - 2T)
17 Duncan JONES (OSPREYS - Cap No 997)
DoB: 18.09.78. 6'0" / 1.83m. 17st 8lbs / 112kgs
International record: 48 caps (W 21, L 25, D 2)
18 Ian EVANS (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,045)
DoB: 04.10.84. 6'8" / 2.04m. 18st 3lbs / 116kgs
International record: 11 caps (W 5, L 5, D 1; 5 pts - 1T)
19 Gareth DELVE (GLOUCESTER RUGBY - Cap No 1,043)
DoB: 30.12.82. 6'3" / 1.91m. 17st 13lbs / 114kgs
International record: 6 caps (W 3, L 3; 5 pts - 1T)
20 Dwayne PEEL (LLANELLI SCARLETS - Cap No 994)
DoB: 31.08.81. 5'9" / 1.76m. 13st 8lbs / 86kgs
International record: 61 caps (W 27, L 32, D 2; 25 pts - 5T)
21 James HOOK (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,047)
DoB: 27.06.85. 6'0" / 1.83m. 14st 3lbs / 90kgs
International record: 23 caps (W 9, L 13, D 1; 170 pts - 6T, 31C, 24PG, 2DG)
22 Sonny PARKER (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,007)
DoB: 27.08.77. 6'1" / 1.86m. 15st 13lbs / 101kgs
International record: 30 caps (W 15, L 15; 30 pts - 6T)