Wales will be seeking to finalise selection ahead of the All Blacks game and lay down a World Cup marker when they face Canada in Cardiff on Friday.
But the Canucks, playing before the largest crowd in their history, want a repeat of their famous win in 1993.
They have chosen 11 full-time players, but stars Jamie Cudmore, Rod Snow, Mike James and Colin Yukes are missing.
Wales are without skipper Stephen Jones so Gareth Thomas leads from 15, James Hook getting a first fly-half start.
Coach Gareth Jenkins' side are near full strength apart from Jones, although competition remains intense throughout the team with Thomas himself battling to stay in ahead of Kevin Morgan.
"I'm just very pleased to play," Thomas told BBC Sport Wales. "There's a lot of pressure on players and that's great for Welsh rugby and for the team.
"I'm looking to stake my place and be a part of a great team performance, but Canada are very committed, passionate, physically strong and fit - we have to respect them.
"It will be a bruising encounter - we have to stand up physically and play the open way we want against a very structured side."
Canada coach Ric Suggitt is delighted that his team have the chance to test themselves on a major stage.
"I'm very excited for the team to be playing in front of 60,000-to-70,000 people, that's the sort of environment and arena we need to get used to before the World Cup," Suggitt told BBC Sport Wales.
"We're here to win, but we also want respect - respect for ourselves, and from the rest of the rugby world.
"We're trying to make inroads into the lead held by the professional rugby nations, but they have all the resources and keep forging ahead.
"If we keep working hard and target that perfect game we know we can knock them over."
Canada's 26-24 win at Cardiff Arms Park in 1993 is their only success from eight encounters with Wales.
The next meeting between the teams will be the countries' opening World Cup fixture on 9 September next year in Nantes.
Wales have responded to a request from Worcester to release prop Chris Horsman for Friday's game with Harlequins.
Horsman - not in the Wales 22 against Canada - will return to the national squad next week and is expected to be on the bench against New Zealand.
Wales: Gareth Thomas (Toulouse, capt); Mark Jones (Scarlets), Tom Shanklin (Blues), Gavin Henson (Ospreys), Shane Williams (Ospreys); James Hook (Ospreys), Dwayne Peel (Scarlets); Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Dragons), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Martyn Williams (Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys).
Replacements: Rhys Thomas (Blues), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Robert Sidoli (Blues), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Michael Phillips (Blues), Ceri Sweeney (Dragons), Sonny Parker (Ospreys).
Canada: Ed Fairhurst (Cardiff Blues); Mike Pyke (Edinburgh), Ryan Smith (Montauban), David Spicer (Uni of Victoria), James Prichard (Bedford); Derek Daypuck (Castaway-Wanderers), Morgan Williams (Albi, capt); Kevin Tkachuk (Glasgow), Mark Lawson (Velox-Valhallians), Forrest Gainer (Albi), Luke Tait (Overmarch Parma), Mike Burak (Pau), Mike Webb (Castaway-Wanderers), Stan McKeen (Cornish Pirates), Sean-Michael Stephen (Bezier).
Replacements: Pat Riordan (Burnaby Lake), Dan Pletch (Oakville Crusaders), Mike Pletch (Oakville Crusaders) Stu Ault (Barrhaven Scottish), Aaron Carpenter (Brantford Harlequins), Ander Monro (Edinburgh), Justin Mensah-Coker (Albi).
Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)
First published on the BBC website|