Josh Navidi will wear the number eight jersey as Wales look to maintain their perfect start to the Guinness Six Nations campaign in Rome on Saturday.
The Cardiff Blues back row featured on the blindside during last week's dramatic opening round victory over France in Paris, but makes the switch to the base of the scrum for the trip to Stadio Olimpico.
Dillon Lewis is recalled into the matchday squad, featuring on the bench, and will be looking to extend his perfect winning record in the Welsh jersey.
Gareth Anscombe is also named amongst the replacements, as head coach Warren Gatland makes 10 changes from last week's win over Les Bleus.
Navidi is joined in the back row by Dragons' Aaron Wainwright and Cardiff Blues academy graduate, Thomas Young, who makes his Guinness Six Nations debut.
Experienced centre, Jonathan Davies, will captain his country for the first time, and forms a new-look partnership with Ospreys youngster Owen Watkin.
Gatland has opted for experience on the bench in the form of Alun Wyn Jones, Ross Moriarty and Gareth Davies.
Wales: Liam Williams (Saracens, 52 caps); Jonah Holmes (Leicester Tigers, 1 cap), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets, 69 caps, capt.), Owen Watkin (Ospreys, 9 caps), Josh Adams (Worcester Warriors, 7 caps); Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, 66 caps), Aled Davies (Ospreys, 12 caps); Nicky Smith (Ospreys, 24 caps), Elliot Dee (Dragons, 14 caps), Samson Lee (Scarlets, 39 caps), Jake Ball (Scarlets, 29 caps), Adam Beard (Ospreys, 9 caps), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons, 4 caps), Thomas Young (Wasps, 2 caps), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues, 12 caps)
Replacements: Ryan Elias (Scarlets, 6 caps), Wyn Jones (Scarlets, 11 caps), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues, 8 caps), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, 121 Caps), Ross Moriarty (Dragons, 27 caps), Gareth Davies (Scarlets, 37 caps), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues, 22 caps), Hallam Amos (Dragons, 18 caps)