George North to start at centre for Wales when he earns his 99th cap

George North is set for a start at centre on his 99th Wales cap against Ireland as Jonathan Davies is to miss out with an ankle injury.

With Josh Adams banned having broken Covid rules it seems Louis Rees-Zammit and Hallam Amos will be selected on the wings on Friday with North moving to centre where he played against Italy in the autumn.

Sources have indicated he and Johnny Williams have been training together in the centres all week as Davies, 32, has failed to shake off an ankle knock in time.

George North will start at centre for Wales when he picks up his 99th cap against Ireland

Wayne Pivac is trusting experience over youth this tournament, desperate for results after only three wins in 10 Tests.

And in the back row 33-year-old Dan Lydiate is expected to play his first Test since 2018, in an experienced trio with Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau who have 225 Welsh caps between them.

Those three last started a Wales international together way back in March 2016 in the Six Nations against Italy.

And Sportsmail understands that giant lock Adam Beard, the 6ft 8in 25-year-old, will partner captain Alun Wyn Jones in the second-row with Jake Ball, departing for Australia at the season’s end on the bench.

It will be Wales’ first Test in Cardiff since playing France at the Principality Stadium pre-Covid last February.

Jonathan Davies has been ruled out of this weekend’s Principality Stadium clash with injury

Speaking before he announces his team today Pivac said he realises he must deliver.

‘Now it’s really about the business of getting results in the Six Nations and we’re only too aware of that,’ said the head coach.

‘We’ve discussed it as a group and we want to hit the ground running. It’s a big, big test for both sides – there is no doubt about that.

‘Ireland were right in the thick of it for winning last year’s Six Nations and we want to be doing a lot better. We’ve picked a side we think can get better results.’