Alun Wyn Jones will make his 150th international appearance when Wales host Italy in their final Six Nations clash at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.
Meanwhile, fly-half Dan Biggar, who will earn his 100th cap this weekend, has retained the armband despite the return of regular skipper Jones who was initially been ruled out of the competition with a recurrence of the shoulder injury suffered before the British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa last year.
“We’ve said with other players reaching 100 appearances what an achievement that is and for Dan I know he’s been looking forward to this moment for a long time,” coach Wayne Pivac said in a statement on Tuesday.
“For him to achieve it with Al, who is also getting the milestone of 150 caps — which no other player has ever done — I think it’s fitting for those two to share the day.
“They’ve played a lot of rugby together and have a healthy respect for each other. They’ve given so much for the game in Wales.”
Hooker Dewi Lake makes a first start for his country and is joined in the front row by props Gareth Thomas and Dillon Lewis, with Adam Beard partnering Jones at lock.
Seb Davies, usually also a second row, is retained as a blindside flanker after the narrow 13-9 loss to France last weekend, and he partners Josh Navidi and Taulupe Faletau in the back-row.
Scrum-half Gareth Davies will make the half-back pairing with Biggar, while Uilisi Halaholo gets a first run in the Six Nations at centre alongside Owen Watkin.
Louis Rees-Zammit returns to the starting side on the wing with Josh Adams and Johnny McNicholl takes at fullback.
“We’ve made a few changes this week. With one game to go there are some players we need to see out there and put them in the match day 23,” Pivac said.
Defending champions Wales could move up to third in the table with a win. Italy have not won a Six Nations game in their last 36 attempts.