Ospreys prop Aaron Jarvis is set to make his Wales debut against renowned scrummagers Argentina at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium after replacing injured set-piece anchorman Adam Jones.
Wales interim head coach Rob Howley, in charge now Warren Gatland is overseeing the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, also sprung a surprise by selecting Tavis Knoyle at scrum-half instead of Mike Phillips.
In the back-row Josh Turnbull starts at blindside flanker in the absence through injury of both Dan Lydiate and Ryan Jones.
Scarlets centre Jonathan Davies has also been sidelined so club colleague Scott Williams partners Jamie Roberts in midfield.
There are seven changes to the team that kicked-off Wales’s last match, a 20-19 defeat by Australia in Sydney in June, with Williams, Roberts, Knoyle, No 8 Toby Faletau, Turnbull, lock Ian Evans and Jarvis all starting.
Injury also sidelines centre Jonathan Davies (groin), so his Scarlets colleague Scott Williams deputises and partners Jamie Roberts in midfield.
The 26-year-old Jarvis was born in Exeter, southwest England but qualifies for Wales through a Welsh grandmother.
He has starred for the Ospreys this season and impressed national coaches during last week’s training camp in Poland.
Saturday’s match is the opening Welsh fixture of a European autumn series that also sees Howley’s men at home to Samoa, world champions New Zealand and Australia.
