Liam Belcher is set to make his international debut as seven Blue & Blacks are named in the Wales squad to take on Japan on Saturday.
The Cardiff captain has enjoyed a series of impressive seasons at the Arms Park and has now been rewarded for that rich vein of form.
He has been named on the replacements bench by Matt Sherratt, while six of his Cardiff teammates are selected in the starting line-up.
Keiron Assiratti and Teddy Williams are both included in the front-five, while Alex Mann and Taulupe Faletau form a dynamic back-row with Scarlets captain Josh Macleod.
In the backs, Ben Thomas continues in the centre and Josh Adams on the wing.
Sherratt said: “We’ve had a very good build-up. We tried to give everyone a fair chance of selection.
“One of the key messages was it’s going to be a 23-man job. So, we’ve tried to spread the experience out in terms of getting some experience coming off the bench.
“I think an 80-minute performance, that physical edge and making sure that we transfer training into the game is going to be the biggest thing for us.
“It’s going to be humid. It’s going to be hot. Japan traditionally play quite a fast brand of rugby, so us getting up to speed with that is going to be key.
“We’ve seen from just being around Kitakyushu this last week, there seems to be a real affinity between some of the Japanese locals and the Welsh team. Hopefully it will be fantastic on Saturday.”
On Josh Macleod and Liam Belcher Sherratt added: “Something we made a big point of in the first team meeting. There’s a number of players who’ve worked their way back into the squad.
“Josh Macleod is an obvious one. He’s struggled with some injuries, had a real rollercoaster over the last three or four years, so him coming back in is massive.
“I think you could tell from the players’ reaction when Liam Belcher was selected how much he deserves it.
“He’s been in the regional game for 10 years. He’s changed clubs. He’s gone back to university to do an electrician’s degree and then he’s managed to work his way into the national squad. So yeah, delighted for Liam.”
Wales team v Japan – 1st Test | Tîm Cymru v Japan
15. Blair Murray (Scarlets – 8 caps)
14. Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 9 caps)
13. Johnny Williams (Scarlets – 7 caps)
12. Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – 12 caps)
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – 61 caps)
10. Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 18 caps)
9. Kieran Hardy (Ospreys | Gweilch – 23 caps)
1. Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers | Caerlŷr – 54 caps)
2. Dewi Lake (Ospreys | Gweilch – 20 caps) – captain | capten
3. Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – 14 caps)
4. Ben Carter (Dragons | Dreigiau – 12 caps)
5. Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – 6 caps)
6. Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – 5 caps)
7. Josh Macleod (Scarlets – 2 caps)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – 108 caps)
Replacements | Eilyddion
16. Liam Belcher (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – uncapped | heb gap)
17. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys | Gweilch – 40 caps)
18. Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby| Caerfaddon – 6 caps)
19. James Ratti (Ospreys | Gweilch – 1 cap)
20. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons | Dreigiau – 57 caps)
21. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers / Caerlŷr – 27 caps)
22. Rhodri Williams (Dragons | Dreigiau – 9 caps)
23. Joe Roberts (Scarlets – 5 caps)