Wales head coach Steve Tandy has named an unchanged starting side as they seek a long-awaited Six Nations success against Italy.
It is more than three years since the last Welsh win in this championship, with a third winless campaign in a row beckoning unless victory is achieved in Cardiff on “Super Saturday”.
Improved performances against Scotland and Ireland have raised hope, though, that the Azzurri can be beaten at the Principality Stadium, and Tandy sticks with the group that impressed in Dublin last Friday.
Dan Edwards continues at fly half with Sam Costelow still absent and Louis Rees-Zammit is again utilised from full-back, while a forward pack that went well in Dublin goes again against an impressive Italian unit.
The sole changed to the matchday squad comes in the No 23 shirt, where Blair Murray is preferred to last week’s debutant Louie Hennessey.
It is the first time since the 2019 Rugby World Cup that Wales have made just a single change between fixtures.
“Having an unchanged team, I think it reflects the cohesion and the consistency in the group and the consistency of performance out in Ireland,” Tandy said.
"This week we need to go up another level. We've had some really good performances. I think there were parts against France, then we built up into the Scotland game where I thought we were very good. Against Ireland we stepped up to the plate physically. Now it's putting it all together and creating our best performance this weekend."
Wales last won a Six Nations game against Italy in round four of the 2023 campaign, and are looking to snap a 15-match losing run in the competition.
After empty seats were visible against France in round two, a better crowd is expected in Cardiff for Wales’s final fixture of the tournament and Tandy has urged fans to get behind the home side.
“For the team and myself, going back to Principality Stadium is amazing,” the head coach said. “The boys did really well creating their own energy against Ireland, but there's nothing better [than being at home].
“The boys reference in meetings what the Scotland game meant to them and the French game, the New Zealand game - the fans have been incredible and I think they're really behind the team and the team are really putting in performances to represent our nation."
Italy, meanwhile, are without tighthead prop Simone Ferrari, who suffered a neck injury against England. Muhamed Hasa starts with Giosue Zilocchi providing cover on the bench.
Federico Ruzza also replaces an absent Andrea Zambonin in the second row having impressed off the bench in round four, while Carmarthen-born scrum half Stephen Varney is set for his first appearance of the campaign from the bench.
Wales starting XV to face Italy in Cardiff (Saturday 14 March, 4.40pm GMT): 1 Rhys Carre, 2 Dewi Lake (capt.), 3 Tomas Francis; 4 Dafydd Jenkins, 5 Ben Carter; 6 Alex Mann, 7 James Botham, 8 Aaron Wainwright; 9 Tomos Williams, 10 Dan Edwards; 11 Josh Adams, 12 Joe Hawkins, 13 Eddie James, 14 Ellis Mee; 15 Louis Rees-Zammit.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Adam Beard, 20 Olly Cracknell; 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Blair Murray.
Italy XV: 1 Danilo Fischetti, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 3 Muhamed Hasa; 4 Niccolo Cannone, 5 Federico Ruzza; 6 Michele Lamaro (capt.), 7 Manuel Zuliani, 8 Lorenzo Cannone; 9 Alessandro Fusco, 10 Paolo Garbisi; 11 Monty Ioane, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 14 Louis Lynagh; 15 Lorenzo Pani.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Giosue Zilocchi, 19 Riccardo Favretto, 20 David Odiase; 21 Stephen Varney, 22 Leonardo Marin, 23 Tommaso Allan.
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