Ceri Coleman-Phillips
BBC Sport Wales rugby reporter at Salford Community Stadium

The stands are filling up nicely now as the giant flags are rolled out across the pitch and the pyrotechnics go off.

The fans are getting ready to welcome the teams as Gwenllian Pyrs leads Wales out ahead of her 50th cap.

Caryl James
Former Wales wing on BBC Radio Cymru

Wales have to play with heart today, I didn't see much of that last week.

Wales tend to play better as underdogs, and nobody has given them a chance today, so there's no pressure on the players.

Philippa Tuttiett
Former Wales international

There's been a overhaul of changes for the Wales squad.

Sean Lynn has brought in seven new players, mostly in the pack, which tells me he's looking for a more physical presence in this team.

They've got to be brave today, they've got to forget they are playing the number two team in the world, they've got to forget about the superstars they are up against.

It's a game of rugby, so take the opportunity and beat your player.

Let us look at some facts and figures of the two sides:

• Canada have won each of their last seven games against Wales, with each of those victories coming by 15+ points. Wales' last win against the Canucks came in May 2006 (16-11)
• Wales and Canada have met four times previously at the Rugby World Cup, they drew their first meeting in 1991 (9-9) with Wales winning three years later (11-5). However, the Canucks have won their two meetings since then, both in 2017 without conceding a single point (15-0 in the Pool stage, 52-0 in the play-offs)
• Canada retained possession from 89 of their 90 attacking rucks against Fiji, with their 98.9% ruck success rate being the best of any nation in the opening round of fixtures at Rugby World Cup 2025
• Wales won eight turnovers against Scotland, with each of those turnovers coming at the breakdown – no other side won more than five turnovers at the ruck in the opening round of Rugby World Cup 2025.
• Canada full-back Julia Schell scored six tries against Fiji, the most by any player in a Rugby World Cup match since New Zealand's Portia Woodman-Wickliffe scored eight against Hong Kong China in 2017.

Image source, Getty Images

Canada are overwhelming favourites and are tipped as one of the sides who can prevent England from lifting the trophy on home soil.

However, head coach Kevin Rouet certainly isn't getting carried away and has warned his players of complacency.

"We have to expect a lot of fight, Wales is never an easy game for us, it’s always an 80-minute grind so we are prepared for threat," said Rouet.

"They have said it is like a final for them so you never know what you could expect from that.

"We just have to be confident with who we are and our preparation, go with the game plan.

"We expect a lot from them and they need to expect a lot from us."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Lock Gwen Crabb is the sole survivor in the starting tight five from last weekend.

She admits that Wales were outmuscled by Scotland and they need a response against a formidable Canada side.

“We need to win that physicality battle, and then we can get out, go forward and we can play in our structure,” said Crabb.

"We've done all the physical preparation, it's just how do we get ourselves in a place where we go and take a really physical team to dark places?

"They are a very physical team, they are second in the world, they are up there with some of the favourites to win this tournament.

"But for me personally and I think as a team, that makes us really excited, because, yes, we are the underdogs, but we have also got nothing to lose.”

Ceri Coleman-Phillips
BBC Sport Wales rugby reporter at Salford Community Stadium

What a difference a week makes.

Last week there was so much buzz and excitement around this stadium as two Six Nations rivals went head-to-head.

But this week, it feels a bit flat. Instead of a 10,000 crowd, Wales and Canada fans are scattered around the stadium, with lots of empty seats.

The announcers are doing their best to create an atmosphere as both sides go through their final warm-ups.

Flanker Bethan Lewis leads Wales out today and says they are looking to put "a lot of wrongs right" in this must-win clash.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales boss Sean Lynn reacted to the performance against Scotland by making seven changes to the starting side.

Both co-captains Alex Callender and Kate Williams are injured so flanker Bethan Lewis leads the side.

There is an all-new front row of Maisie Davies, Molly Reardon and Sisilia Tuipulotu, while Abbie Fleming comes in at lock.

Lewis is joined in the back row by Georgia Evans and Bryonie King with Carys Cox coming into midfield.

There is youth on the bench in the shape of uncapped Branwen Metcalfe, Tilly Vucaj and Seren Lockwood.

Wales: Nel Metcalfe; Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, Carys Cox, Courtney Keight, Lisa Neumann; Lleucu George, Keira Bevan; Maisie Davies, Molly Reardon, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Abbie Fleming, Gwen Crabb, Bryonie King, Bethan Lewis (capt), Georgia Evans

Replacements: Kelsey Jones, Gwenllian Pyrs, Jenni Scoble, Tilly Vucaj, Branwen Metcalfe, Seren Lockwood, Kayleigh Powell, Kerin Lake.

Image source, Getty Images

Canada aim to show the strength of their squad after head coach Kevin Rouet opted to tinker with the XV that dismantled Fiji 65-7 in York.

The boss makes five changes to the starting line-up with loose-head prop McKinley Hunt and hooker Emily Tuttosi getting the nod in the front row.

Karen Paquin, who is playing in her fourth World Cup, starts at openside flanker while wing Asia Hogan-Rochester is at the other end of the spectrum and makes her tournament debut.

Lock Tyson Beukeboom is already Canada’s most-capped women’s player and will go level with men’s player Aaron Carpenter on 80.

Julia Schell keeps her spot at full-back after crossing for six of the 11 tries against Fiji.

Canada: Julia Schell; Alysha Corrigan, Florence Symonds, Alexandra Tessier (capt), Asia Hogan-Rochester; Taylor Perry, Justine Pelletier; McKinley Hunt, Emily Tuttosi, DaLeaka Menin, Sophie de Goede, Tyson Beukeboom, Caroline Crossley, Karen Paquin, Gabrielle Senft

Replacements: Gillian Boag, Brittany Kassil, Olivia DeMerchant, Courtney O'Donnell, Fabiola Forteza, Olivia Apps, Claire Gallagher, Shoshanah Seumanutafa.

Image source, Getty Images

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of a huge game for Wales as they attempt to stun Canada in Pool B of the World Cup.

Sean Lynn’s side are back in Salford and they are up against it after being hammered 38-8 by Scotland at this venue last Saturday.

That means that they need to cause a huge upset against Canada, who are ranked second in the world.

Fail and Wales will be out of the tournament if Scotland safely negotiate their game against Fiji in the second part of Saturday's double-header in the north west of England.

The bookies don’t fancy the Welsh chances but can we witness something special? Settle in and follow events with us right here.

Let’s take a look at the teams.