Wales v Australia: Josh Adams, Tomas Francis and Aaron Wainwright fit to face Wallabies

Wales wing Josh Adams was the top try scorer at the 2019 World Cup with seven

Wing Josh Adams, prop Tomas Francis and back row Aaron Wainwright have all been passed fit to start for Wales against Australia in Cardiff on Saturday.

British and Irish Lion Adams had been set to face Fiji at centre last week but pulled out late with a calf strain.

Prop Wyn Jones returns, while Seb Davies starts at lock, Tomos Williams at scrum-half and Willis Halaholo at centre.

Lions centre Jonathan Davies is left out of the squad for tactical reasons.

While prop Francis has been named in Wayne Pivac's starting XV, there is still doubt over his fitness and while Wales remain hopeful, he will see an independent consultant on Thursday night.

Should the Ospreys prop withdraw, Wyn Jones could cover tight-head roles along with Dillon Lewis in the squad or a specialist could be drafted into the squad.

Pivac also admitted Adams will have to prove his fitness.

"He's training today," said Pivac.

"We've named him on the basis he'll come through training. We've been advised he should.

"I'm hoping like everyone else that he comes through because he's an important part of our side. Looking at the bench, there's the opportunity to use Josh in midfield and that's something we'll possibly look to do."

Australia, meanwhile, will be without injured captain Michael Hooper.

The back row, 30, suffered a foot injury in last Saturday's 32-15 defeat against England and is ruled out at the Principality Stadium, replaced by Pete Samu in the open-side flanker role, with prop James Slipper taking the armband.

Tighthead props Taniela Tupou and Allan Alaalatoa have both made full recoveries, with Tupou starting alongside hooker Tolu Latu - who made his Test return last weekend.

Reds winger Filipo Daugunu is the final change to the starting XV, earning his first Wallabies jersey since breaking his arm in the series decider against France back in July.

In all, Wales head coach Pivac makes seven changes in personnel for their final Autumn Nations Series game.

Defeats against New Zealand and South Africa were followed by an unconvincing win over 14-man Fiji.

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Halaholo and Nick Tompkins, both late replacements to the bench and starting line-up respectively last weekend, get the nod as the midfield partnership, with fellow centre Davies not named in the matchday squad.

Hooker Ryan Elias remains the only constant in the front row and is one of only three players to start all four of Wales' autumn Tests, alongside lock Adam Beard and back row Taine Basham.

Ellis Jenkins will lead the side from the blind-side flank, with Basham returning to the open-side as Wainwright returns at number eight after injury.

"Australia have been on the road for a while now, the series they had down south and a couple of losses in the last couple of games," Pivac said.

"They'll be hurting from that and they'll want to finish their tour on a high note, as we'd like to finish our campaign on a high note. It bodes well for a pretty interesting fixture.

"[Wallabies coach] Dave Rennie brings a physical approach to the game and we certainly expect that from the Australians but we have to be able to match that and impose ourselves on the game.

"It's going to be an enthralling encounter I think and a great way to finish a series. We're really looking forward to Saturday."

Wales host the Wallabies on Saturday after being accompanied throughout the autumn by repeated injury setbacks.

Pivac has used close to 40 players across the three internationals so far.

Wales' long list of absentees includes British and Irish Lions Alun Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Ross Moriarty, Taulupe Faletau, Justin Tipuric, Josh Navidi, Leigh Halfpenny and George North.

Prop WillGriff John and Will Rowlands have added to the casualty list after suffering head injuries against Fiji, with forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys saying Wales were missing 15 forwards against the Wallabies.

"It's been a tough campaign but one where we've exposed more players to this level of rugby, which all bodes well for the future," Pivac said.

"With the injuries we've faced, we have had to adapt and those are opportunities that some of the players have taken very well."

Wales' situation has also seen the emergence of flanker Basham and teenage lock Christ Tshiunza.

Basham's back-row colleague Jenkins has made an impressive return following a three-year absence from international rugby due to injury.

Wales have won their past two encounters against Australia, including a pivotal 2019 World Cup pool victory, after a run of 13 successive defeats in the fixture.

Success on Saturday would send them into the start of a Six Nations title defence next February with spirits high.

Australia, meanwhile, are "desperate" for victory after successive defeats against Scotland and England.

"We haven't performed as well as we've needed to in the previous two Tests and we're keen to make up for it," said head coach Dave Rennie.

"It's a strong [Wales] side, pretty much what we expected. Wainwright back gives them an excellent ball-carrying, go-forward loose forward.

"They've got genuine on-ball presence, a pretty strong backline and excellent back three. It's a good side.

"They've had a couple of losses and found their way past Fiji on the weekend. We're pretty desperate as well."

Teams:

Wales: L Williams; Rees-Zammit, Tompkins, Halaholo, Adams; Biggar, T Williams; W Jones, Elias, Francis, Beard, S Davies, Jenkins (capt), Basham, Wainwright.

Replacements: Dee, G Thomas, Lewis, Carter, Tshiunza, G Davies, Priestland, McNicholl.

Australia: Beale; Kellaway, Ikitau, Paisami, Daugunu; O'Connor, White; Slipper (capt), Latu, Tupou, Arnold, Rodda, Leota, Samu, Valetini.

Replacements: Fainga'a, Bell, Alaalatoa, Skelton, Swinton, McDermott, Foketi, Wright.

Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

Assistant referees: Mathieu Raynal (FFR, Nika Amashukeli (GRU)

TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

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