Ryan Jones has been cleared to start for Wales in Friday's clash with the Fijians © Getty Images

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Ryan Jones will lead Wales out in Friday night's Test against Fiji, with Matthew Rees having been rested for the game at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

The versatile Ospreys forward missed the clash with Australia on November 6 with a calf problem but made the bench for Saturday's defeat by the Springboks.

However, Jones will start at blindside flanker against the Fijians and the former British & Irish Lion will be joined in the back-row by No.8 Jonathan Thomas and either Dan Lydiate, who is still struggling with an ankle problem, or Martyn Williams.

Elsewhere, Wales boss Warren Gatland has opted for an all-new half-back pairing, with Dan Biggar and Richie Rees coming into the side for Stephen Jones and Mike Phillips respectively. Also in the back-line, Aled Brew replaces the injured Shane Williams on the left wing, while Andrew Bishop earns a recall to the Welsh midfield at the expense of Tom Shanklin, who drops to the bench.

Meanwhile, the decision to rest Rees means there is a recall for Huw Bennett at hooker. There are also recalls for Ian Gough and Deiniol Jones, who come into the second row in place of Bradley Davies and Alun Wyn-Jones.

There is one notable inclusion on the bench, the Tongan-born Toby Faletau, who is poised to win his debut cap. In total, Gatland has made nine changes to the side which faded badly in last weekend's clash with South Africa and he is hoping for a far more clinical display.

"We have been self critical this week about our failure to close out matches when the finishing line may be in sight, no less than was evident against South Africa on Saturday," he said. "We need to be ruthless against Fiji and, with a few changes made to the starting line-up, more organised than ever.

"A couple of players, like Richie Rees and Huw Bennett get their chance to show what they can do from the start of a game rather than off the bench. And on the bench too we have a wealth of experience to call upon, should we need it, alongside a young man originally from Tonga who now qualifies for Wales who is alread quite a prospect.

"We are giving Dan's ankle injury time to settle down and are looking for him to start in a young back row, if he doesn't make it Martyn will come straight, but we are fairly relaxed about which way that falls and are blessed to be able to switch and change in that area if necessary to minimum impact."

Wales: L Byrne (Ospreys); G North (Scarlets), J Hook (Ospreys), A Bishop (Ospreys), A Brew (Dragons); D Biggar (Ospreys), R Rees (Cardiff); P James (Ospreys), H Bennett (Ospreys), A Jones (Ospreys); I Gough (Ospreys), D Jones (Cardiff); R Jones (capt and Ospreys), D Lydiate (Dragons)/M Williams (Cardiff), J Thomas (Ospreys).

Replacements: R Hibbard (Ospreys), J Yapp (Cardiff), B Davies (Cardiff), T Faletau (Dragons), M Phillips (Ospreys), S Jones (Scarlets), T Shanklin (Cardiff).