Wales v Australia: Owen Williams and Josh Navidi to start for hosts in Cardiff

Owen Williams' first Wales cap came as a replacement against Tonga in June, 2017 in Auckland

Owen Williams will make his first Wales start at centre and Josh Navidi plays at open-side when they host Australia in Cardiff on Saturday.

Leigh Halfpenny is recalled at full-back as Liam Williams is on the wing.

Navidi and replacement Sam Cross are cover for injured back-row regulars Justin Tipuric and Sam Warburton.

Australia recall half-backs Will Genia and Bernard Foley, who missed last weekend's win over Japan, with Reece Hodge switching from fly-half to wing.

Tipuric's fellow Osprey Rhys Webb is also injured so Gareth Davies partners Dan Biggar at half-back.

Ex-Scarlet Owen Williams forms a new centre partnership with Jonathan Davies, the 2017 British and Irish Lions' player of their tour to New Zealand.

Tomas Francis lines up at prop with Samson Lee missing with an Achilles problem which could rule him out of the Georgia game on 18 November.

Dragons prop Leon Brown, Ospreys centre Owen Watkin and Olympic silver medallist Sam Cross are the uncapped players on the bench for Wales with just 37 Tests among the eight replacements.

Gatland's selection thinking

Warren Gatland (centre) has been in charge of Wales since 2007

Gatland highlighted Williams' chance to impress in attack after deciding to play a midfield playmaker while demanding strong defence from his new centre.

"His win ratio at 12 has been good and he has played a lot at 10," said Gatland.

"Everyone has talked about his attack but what is going to win Saturday's game is defence.

"They have a massive midfield and two direct wings. If we don't tackle it doesn't matter how many times we attack."

Australian coach Cheika says he is wary of Williams talents after naming centre Samu Kerevi and switching Kurtley Beale to full-back.

"He's a fine player with a good kicking game and good footwork and will threaten our defence for sure," said Cheika.

"It'll be a challenge for us defensively with another play-maker in there."

With Warburton injured and Ross Moriarty having played only once this season for Gloucester after a back injury, Aaron Shingler earns a blind-side recall.

Josh Navidi made his Wales debut against Japan in June 2013

Dan Lydiate is not in the matchday squad and Gatland said the new-look back-row is a reward for those picked.

"Aaron was in the squad four years ago and wasn't quite there for international rugby," said Gatland.

"He has proved himself over the last year by playing outstandingly well for the Scarlets.

"Josh has played everywhere across the back-row.

"It will be interesting to see how the combination goes with Sam Cross and how he fits in."

Cheika believes Wales will target the breakdown despite the loss of Tipuric and Warburton.

"We got taken to town last week by Japan at the ruck and it's an area Wales will target," said Cheika.

"Navidi and Faletau are good players and they have a lot of experience of getting in spoiling the opposition's rucks."

Leigh Halfpenny and Liam Williams were 2017 Lions in New Zealand, where Williams was preferred for the Tests

Gatland says picking Liam Williams on the wing and having Halfpenny at full-back is their preferred combination.

"We picked Liam at full-back for the Lions but he has gone back to Saracens and he has been on the wing," said Gatland.

"We want our wings to roam and have lots of touches and Liam and Steff (Evans) have the ability to do that."

Wales: Halfpenny (Scarlets); L Williams (Saracens), J Davies (Scarlets), O Williams (Gloucester), S Evans (Scarlets); Biggar (Ospreys), G Davies (Scarlets); R Evans (Scarlets), Owens (Scarlets), Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Ball (Scarlets), A W Jones (Ospreys, capt), Shingler (Scarlets), Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Faletau (Bath).

Replacements: Smith (Ospreys), Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Brown (Dragons), Cross (Ospreys), Hill (Dragons), A Davies (Scarlets), Watkin (Ospreys), Amos (Dragons).

Australia: Beale; Koroibete, Kuridrani, Kerevi, Hodge; Foley, Genia; Sio, Polota-Nau, Kepu, Simmons, Coleman, Hanigan, Hooper (capt), McMahon.

Replacements: Moore, Robertson, Alaalatoa, Philip, McCalman, Phipps, Hunt, Speight.