Jasmine Joyce returns and three new players will be capped by Wales this weekend as head coach Ioan Cunningham has named an experimental side to face Canada in their first World Cup warm-up.
Wales have been in Canada since last Friday and a training week, which has included training alongside the opposition, will culminate in a Test match on Saturday, August 27 (9pm kick-off UK time, follow live updates here).
It is the first of two warm-up games for Wales Women, who will face England at Bristol's Ashton Gate on Wednesday, September 14, before heading to New Zealand for the rescheduled Rugby World Cup, with Ioan Cunninghame's side opening against Scotland on October 9.
Uncapped rugby union back Lowri Norkett, who boss Cunningham says has "trained the house down", starts on the wing having made her Wales debut in an uncapped friendly against USA in March. She has also represented Wales in rugby league.
Former England international Carys Williams-Morris lines up at centre to become the first player to switch allegiance to Wales thanks to newly-introduced World Rugby rules following a three-year stand-down period. Having been in the Wales training squad since July, the paperwork has been completed and she will now represent the land of her parents for the first time having previously earned five Red Roses caps including one against Wales. She will partner Hannah Jones in the midfield, with the Gloucester-Hartpury player having been handed the captaincy from kick-off for the first time.
Elsewhere, scrum-half Eloise Hayward will earn her first cap if she comes off the bench.
The game will mark Jasmine Joyce's return to action on the wing since she underwent shoulder surgery in May to treat an ongoing injury. Kayleigh Powell lines up at full-back, while Elinor Snowsill and Ffion Lewis are the starting half-backs.
Among the forwards, hooker Kat Evans, second row Abbie Fleming and flanker Manon Johnes all get their first chances to impress in a Wales shirt this year having been restricted during the Six Nations. Evans lines up alongside props Cara Hope and Donna Rose in the front row, while Fleming partners Natalia John at lock and Johnes is joined in the back-row by Beth Lewis who starts at No. 6 and Sioned Harries at the back of the scrum.
Wales boss Cunningham said: "This week has already certainly served a valuable purpose in helping us to raise the standard of our preparation ahead of Rugby World Cup. The players have worked really hard throughout this block and we are all looking forward to testing ourselves against the No. 4 team in the world on Saturday.
"The selection rewards players who have really impressed in training recently and also gives us a chance to see players we haven’t seen in a Wales jersey as a management team. Abbie Fleming, Manon Johnes and Kat Evans fully deserve this opportunity having worked really hard. They didn’t get much of a chance in the Six Nations, so now’s their chance to shine.
"And then we have first time opportunities for Lowri Norkett who has also trained the house down and Carys Williams who has settled really well into our environment. They are both very dynamic players and give us different attacking options.
"It’s great to see Jaz back on field having recovered well from her lay-off and we are thrilled to hand Hannah the captaincy for this game. Siwan is on the bench and has a different role this week but we are developing leadership in a number of areas and everyone will be supporting Hannah in this role that she fully deserves.
"We are focussing 90% on us this week and trying not to worry too much about the opposition. We played them last autumn and trained against them in the week. They are impressive athletes and are really up for this home game but we can’t wait to see how we go."
Wales v Canada kicks off at 9pm UK time on Saturday, August 27, in Halifax. The match will be broadcast live online on S4C Clic, BBC iPlayer, S4C Chwaraeon Facebook and S4C YouTube channels.
Wales: 15. Kayleigh Powell; 14. Jasmine Joyce, 13. Carys Williams-Morris, 12. Hannah Jones (capt), 11. Lowri Norkett, 10. Elinor Snowsill, 9. Ffion Lewis; 1. Cara Hope, 2. Kat Evans, 3. Donna Rose, 4. Abbie Fleming, 5. Natalia John, 6. Beth Lewis, 7. Manon Johnes, 8. Sioned Harries.
Replacements: 16. Kelsey Jones, 17. Caryl Thomas, 18. Sisilia Tuipulotu, 19. Georgia Evans, 20. Siwan Lillicrap, 21. Eloise Hayward, 22. Lleucu George, 23. Caitlin Lewis.
Canada: 15. Elissa Alarie, 14. Paige Farries, 13. Sara Kaljuvee, 12. Alexandra Tessier, 11. Maddy Grant, 10. Taylor Perry, 9. Brianna Miller, 1. Olivia DeMerchant, 2. Emily Tuttosi, 3. DaLeaka Menin, 4. Courtney Holtkamp, 5. Tyson Beukeboom, 6. Fabiola Forteza, 7. Karen Paquin, 8. Sophie de Goede (capt).
Replacements: 16. Laura Russell, 17. Brittany Kassil, 18. Alex Ellis, 19. Emma Taylor, 20. Ngalula Fuamba, 21. Sara Svoboda, 22. Justine Pelletier, 23. Julia Schell.
