Wayne Pivac has named three uncapped youngsters in his 36-man Wales squad for the Six Nations and chosen Dan Biggar as his captain for the tournament.
Ospreys young guns Jac Morgan (back-row) and Dewi Lake (hooker) are rewarded for the rich promise they show as Pivac begins looking to the future.
Another former Osprey, James Ratti, also gets the call for the first time after being converted from second row to No.8 by David Young at Cardiff.
READ MORE: Get your up to the minute squad news and reaction here
The other headline act in Pivac's squad sees Biggar chosen ahead of Ellis Jenkins and Jonathan Davies for the cherished captaincy in the absence of Alun Wyn Jones, who misses the entire tournament after undergoing shoulder surgery.
Biggar, 32, is set to reach 100 Test caps during the Six Nations, having already featured 95 times for Wales and on three occasions for the Lions.
His is one of the players guaranteed to start the opening games against Ireland and Scotland next month as Pivac continues to wrestle with a whole raft of injuries.
Interestingly, Ospreys lock Adam Beard is named ahead of the others as vice-captain.
You can follow Wayne Pivac's live press conference here.
Among the big name absentees from Pivac's squad are Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau, who aren't regarded as fit enough to start the tournament. They may be brought in as the Six Nations progresses, with the clash against England at Twickenham on February 26 a likely target.
Ken Owens and George North are other major veterans missing from the party, but Ross Moriarty, who has also been on the injured list, does return.
There is also a Wales recall for Ospreys centre Owen Watkin, who was dropped from the autumn squad.
The inclusion of the younger players will excite Welsh fans, with 21-year-old Morgan looking to battle for a back-row berth against Ireland.
The dynamic openside has been perhaps the form player in Welsh rugby this season, producing a number of stunning displays for the Ospreys following his summer switch from rivals Scarlets.
A former Wales U20s captain. Morgan had been tipped to make the autumn Test squad, but wasn't included. However, he has forced Pivac's hand after continuing to make a big impact at regional level, displaying a strong defence, willingness to take responsibility and ability to turn opposition ball over.
Morgan's Ospreys team-mate Lake, 22, has even been touted as a future Lions hooker given his excellence in the loose, where he carries the ball, wins turnovers and has a good tackle count.
His throwing into the lineout is a work in progress, but he will put pressure on Ryan Elias and Bradley Roberts for the hooking berth, given Ken Owens' injury.
Ratti, 24, gets the call at lock after also impressing this season with his 6ft 4in and 18 stone frame. He was released by the Scarlets but has re-galvanised his career a few miles up the road at the Arms Park, where Cardiff boss Young has moved him from lock to No.8.
With Faletau out, Pivac has a shortage of candidates at the base of the scrum and Ratti suddenly comes into the mix.
Pivac said: "With the World CXup on the horizon next year, every match will be important for development on the road to France."
He continued: “In terms of captaincy we’ve named Dan Biggar. With the experience missing with some players out injured, we wanted someone who had experienced the competition on a number of occasions and knows the rigours of it. He gives us that – he has 95 Wales caps and he’s toured with the British and Irish Lions.
“Dan has the respect of the other players and management so we think he’ll do a great job.”
Wales squad in full
Forwards (20): Rhys Carre, Wyn Jones, Gareth Thomas, Ryan Elias, Dewi Lake, Bradley Roberts, Leon Brown, Tomas Francis, Dillon Lewis, Adam Beard (vice-captain), Ben Carter, Seb Davies, Will Rowlands, Christ Tshiunza, Taine Basham, Ellis Jenkins, Jac Morgan, Ross Moriarty, James Ratti, Aaron Wainwright.
Backs (16): Gareth Davies, Kieran Hardy, Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Dan Biggar (captain), Rhys Priestland, Callum Sheedy, Jonathan Davies, Uilisi Halaholo, Nick Tompkins, Owen Watkin, Josh Adams, Alex Cuthbert, Louis Rees-Zammit, Johnny McNicholl, Liam Williams.
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