Wales caretaker boss Nigel Davies has no doubt Gavin Henson is ready for his eagerly-awaited return to Test rugby in this weekend's clash against world champions South Africa.
Saturday's Millennium Stadium encounter - Wales' first match since they made a painfully-premature World Cup exit almost two months ago - sees Henson restored to midfield duties.
It will be the 25-year-old's first international start for more than a year, and only his second full appearance in Wales colours since the Six Nations Grand Slam-clinching victory over Ireland in March, 2005.
A lengthy suspension was followed by injury, before further question marks surrounding Henson's fitness meant former Wales coach Gareth Jenkins overlooked him for the 2007 World Cup campaign.
But Henson's appearance - fellow Ospreys James Hook and Sonny Parker will line up either side of him against the Springboks - should increase spectator interest for a game that currently has more than 20,000 unsold tickets.
Davies said: "I saw Gavin play at Kingsholm for the Ospreys against Gloucester last Friday.
"It was a very intense environment - one of the most intense environments at club or regional level, and close to the international arena - and he performed very well.
"That ultimately convinced me.
"Another factor is there is a midfield trio who have played consistently together for the Ospreys - so they have a great understanding, which definitely helps.
"We have had a limited time to prepare this team, so these are the considerations that come into that."
Hook's appearance in the number 10 shirt means former Wales captain Stephen Jones moves to replacement duty.
But Davies' most contentious decision undoubtedly surrounds Cardiff Blues centre Tom Shanklin, who misses out behind Parker and starts on the wing instead of an injured Shane Williams.
Shanklin is one of Europe's form midfield operators, but Davies added: "Tom has played on the wing before.
"He is a world-class player and he realises that he is doing a job for Wales in the respect he has taken to the challenge and is ready to support our needs."
Only six players survive in their starting positions from the World Cup defeat against Fiji last time out - wing Mark Jones, scrum-half Dwayne Peel, prop Gethin Jenkins, locks Ian Evans and Alun-Wyn Jones and flanker Colin Charvis.
The vacancy created by openside Martyn Williams' post-World Cup retirement from Test duties is filled by his Blues colleague Robin Sowden-Taylor.
Llanelli Scarlets full-back Morgan Stoddart makes his Test debut - injury meant Ospreys' Lee Byrne was not considered - and there is also significant interest surrounding the selection of 25-year-old Newport Gwent Dragons tighthead prop Rhys Thomas.
Johannesburg-born Thomas will play against his native country - a path already trodden by England's South Africa-born tighthead Matt Stevens - and his third cap sees him filling a position possibly up for grabs in the long term.
Davies, who hands over the coaching reins to New Zealander Warren Gatland next week, said: "In many ways, this is the start of a new era.
"It is definitely a new-look team. But more importantly we have to become accustomed to winning, and what better way to start than by beating the world champions.
"Winning is a habit. We have to stop thinking we can't win, and start believing that we can.
"We have to start somewhere. I am very comfortable and confident that this group of players have together bought into what we are trying to achieve.
"There is a great energy in the group and a great desire to do well for themselves and for Wales.
"We are facing the current world champions, and it is obviously a tough prospect.
"But we are playing at home in front of a baying crowd of Welsh fans - and we have a magnificent opportunity to make a statement that will reverberate around world rugby."
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