Warren Gatland named his extended 54-man Rugby World Cup training squad on Monday with plenty of surprise selections which have ruffled more than a few feathers.
But for all the discussion over the personnel in the squad Gatland has yet to make a final call over who captains the side.
The New Zealander may, or may not, know who he will ask to take Wales into battle in France this autumn. If he does, he's not letting on just yet.
Even four years ago, when Alun Wyn Jones had just skippered Wales to a Grand Slam, he wasn't afforded the title of captain at the first hurdle. Ultimately, because there's little to gain from doing so at this stage. Why back yourself into a corner now when things could change so much over the course of the summer?
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With that in mind, we assess the leading contenders to lead the team, with the pros and cons for the main candidates Gatland will be thinking of.
Ken Owens
The Scarlets hooker was handed the captaincy for the Six Nations, doing a commendable job in difficult circumstances.
Even when he hasn't held the captain's armband Owens has been one of the spiritual leaders of this Wales side over a number of years.
The 91-times capped front-rower obviously has experience on his side, while he is an inspirational leader, the sort of man everyone else will gladly follow into battle.
The smart money would be on Owens to resume the role - with Gatland speaking highly of how he dealt with the stress-inducing off-field problems in the Six Nations.
But, and there is a major but here, Gatland also stressed the competition returning in the hooker's position would put pressure on Owens.
He cited Dewi Lake's comeback from injury, the 'good rugby' Elliot Dee is playing at the moment, and says Ryan Elias is in the mix too.
"There is going to be some real competition there. The first thing for Ken is he's got to earn his place and then when we start getting a little bit closer, we’ll start thinking about a World Cup captain," said Gatland.
Conventional wisdom has always dictated that whoever you pick as captain should be an automatic starter. Those quotes raise the possibility that the 36-year-old Owens will be pushed hard for a place.
With Ospreys hooker Lake in particular having long been tipped as a starter, there's no guarantee that Owens' position will be as assured as it was in the Six Nations.
Verdict - Owens is the secure option, and is more than capable of steadying the ship, but young Lake might become the starting No.2 by then - and Gatland may want a fresh voice at the helm after a disappointing Six Nations.
Dan Biggar
The Wales outside-half is another player who has significant experience of wearing the captain's armband at Test level.
During the last few months of the Wayne Pivac era Biggar led Wales into battle, and like Owens, did a decent enough job.
The 33-year-old is a vocal figure on the field, a master tactician, and isn't shy to tell his team-mates if they have done something wrong.
Biggar thrived under the responsibility through a very difficult period which saw Wales lose home Tests against Georgia, and Italy, respectively.
The Toulon man has always courted controversy in part due to the way he sometimes deals with referees. Biggar has never shied away from letting them know if he feels they have got a decision wrong, which occasionally has cost his side.
One of the things Gatland really admired about Sam Warburton's captaincy was the way he dealt with the officials. He knew exactly when and how to talk to them which is a trait many captain's struggle to master.
Also, despite being first choice for the past couple of years, Biggar won't be guaranteed his place at No.10 come the World Cup. He was dropped for Owen Williams during the Six Nations, while the presence of the fit again Gareth Anscombe, a player Gatland has preferred in the past, also complicates things,
Verdict - There's no doubt Biggar is a real contender, and is a natural leader, but Gatland may not want to go back to his predecessor's choice as captain.
Justin Tipuric
It would be silly not to mention the 33-year-old when it comes to the captaincy given he has done it successfully on a number of occasions for Wales.
The 93-times capped international has done a fine job captaining the Ospreys this season, showing his leadership skills.
Tipuric is someone who sets the very highest of standards, and expects his team-mates to follow suit.
One presumes the 33-year-old will be in Gatland's starting XV at the World Cup given his consistency and all-round class, but he does face competition for the number seven jersey from young tyros Jac Morgan and Tommy Reffell.
Lots could still happen in Wales' three World Cup warm-up games before they head to France.
Verdict - Tipuric has to be among the favourites given his experience and standing in the squad. Can he keep his place in the team, with Morgan and Reffell each having many admirers?
Alun Wyn Jones
Former captain Jones rarely gets mentioned as a contender anymore, perhaps because his place in the starting XV isn't guaranteed like it once was.
Particularly as Will Rowlands, the man who displaced him from the side, is back from injury and eligible for selection as he'll be allowed to reach the 25 caps he needs in the warm-up matches.
Jones is still the best captain Gatland has at his disposal but in reality it is highly unlikely the 37-year-old will be able to play every game at the World Cup due to his age.
When England were crowned world champions back in 2003 Martin Johnson was the official captain but there was a strong leadership group supporting the former Leicester man with the likes of Lawrence Dallaglio, Johnny Wilkinson, Jason Leonard, and Richard Hill just as influential.
That's the key for Gatland, who knows better than anyone the captain needs fellow leaders to support him.
Verdict - Jones may well be the greatest Welsh captain in history but the odds are perhaps against him leading Wales in France. The Ospreys man will play a vital leadership role, just maybe not the captain of this ship.
Will Rowlands
Last year, Jamie Roberts singled out Racing 92-bound Rowlands as a potential captaincy candidate.
The 31-year-old is far and away Wales' best lock with his absence felt keenly during a bitterly disappointing Six Nations campaign.
What goes in Rowlands' favour is the fact he's one of the first players on the team-sheet, while his leadership credentials stood out during the painful final throes of the Pivac era.
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He may not be as vocal as the likes of Biggar, Owens, or Jones but he leads by example, and sets very high standards.
However, he still needs to win two more caps to reach the 25-mark which makes him eligible to go to the World Cup. He'll obviously hope to get to that figure in August, with Wales meeting England home and away and then South Africa in Cardiff. But he does need to play in two of those games.
Verdict - Rowlands ticks the boxes required from a Wales captain, the main one being he is guaranteed his place in the starting XV if fit which is something Owens, Jones, and even Biggar don't have in their favour.
Adam Beard
Ospreys lock Beard has been a Wales vice-captain and has plenty of experience. Beard is a man who leads by example, the sort of no-nonsense grafter which Gatland has a lot of time for.
He is also comfortable talking to the Press, a part of the job which is not always appreciated by some.
The 27-year-old is a very popular member of the squad and has the respect of the players, while he is also vocal on the field.
What may go against him is the return of Cory Hill which makes his place in the XV a little less certain, but even so it would be a shock if Gatland wasn't considering Beard for the role.
Verdict - There's no doubt Beard is a contender given his consistency and age. At the very least he will be part of the leadership group.
Cory Hill
Gatland is a big fan of former Dragons and Cardiff lock Cory Hill who currently plies his trade for Yokohama Canon Eagles in Japan.
Should he figure in the warm-up Tests this will be the first time he will have been chosen since facing France in Paris back in 2021.
He was involved in an unsavoury incident which saw a woman's home damaged. There are some who aren't comfortable with this selection, but at his best the 31-year-old can give Wales a blend of athleticism and physicality which is often hard to find.
He has captained Wales in the past, and if he hadn't transferred to Japan there's every chance he would have led his country more often.
Verdict - Being away from the Test scene for two years doesn't help his cause and the reality is this is too politically sensitive. Gatland won't want the distraction.
Jac Morgan
This will raise a few eyebrows but is it as far fetched as may seem at first glance?
There were rumours prior to the Six Nations that Gatland was considering the Ospreys man as his captain.
Morgan is somebody who could could grow into the role, and has captained Wales at U20s level.
The man from the Amman Valley is a natural leader who sets very high standards, and at 23 is a similar age to Sam Warburton when he led Wales to the 2011 World Cup.
As it stands there is a staleness around the squad, and the selection of Morgan would inject something different into proceedings.
Whatever, it's a question of when, not if, he captains Wales.
Verdict - Morgan is the dark horse. It would be a bold call from Gatland, but he proved with Warburton age is no barrier. Unlikely just yet however, but don't totally rule it out.
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