Steve Tandy will be weighing up a number of key selection calls ahead of naming his Wales side tomorrow

Steve Tandy will name his Wales team to face Japan tomorrow, with the players set to be informed of their selection today.

Much of the starting XV is likely to have been settled for some time, with Tandy and his coaching staff having had a clear picture of their preferred line-up.

But these are the last-minute selection calls Tandy is likely to be mulling over.

Back-row balance

Jac Morgan and Aaron Wainwright look certain to start in the back row, but the third loose forward is up for debate.

Alex Mann, Taine Plumtree and James Botham are the contenders for the number six jersey, with each offering something different.

The Wales coaches are big admirers of Mann, a tireless worker who has a knack for getting under the skin of opponents. He made a Six Nations record 31 tackles against Ireland in March and embodies the kind of grit Tandy wants to see from his side.

His Cardiff team-mate Botham rarely receives the recognition he deserves from the public, but produced an outstanding performance in his club's defeat to the Sharks last week. He has been a dependable performer for Wales, boasts a huge engine and offers a genuine threat at the breakdown.

Plumtree, meanwhile, could come into consideration given Japan's reputation for playing rugby at a high tempo. The Scarlets forward is an excellent athlete, a strong lineout option and possesses a touch of X-factor, although his tendency to concede penalties remains a concern.

Another possibility would be to move Wainwright to number six, allowing Taine Basham or Kane James to come into the side at number eight.

This is definitely an area the coaches will be mulling over.

Costelow or Edwards

Ospreys fly-half Dan Edwards started nine of Wales' 11 Test matches in the 2025/26 season and currently holds the number 10 jersey.

However, Sam Costelow's injury-hit campaign meant the coaches had limited opportunities to assess the two playmakers against each other, and there remains a question over who is Wales' first-choice outside-half.

Edwards offers a triple threat. He is dangerous with ball in hand, has an effective kicking game and plays with an assurance that belies his experience.

But Costelow produced arguably the finest performance by a Wales fly-half last season in the narrow defeat to Scotland.

Had the Scarlets playmaker stayed on the field for the full 80 minutes, Wales might well have come away with victory.

Costelow arguably brings a little more cohesion to the backline, although a lack of consistency at international level, partly due to repeated injuries, has held him back.

There is little to separate the two and this looks a genuine 50-50 call.

The centre partnership

Eddie James looks certain to start in midfield, with Tandy making clear on the ScrumV podcast last month that he views him as a Test-level outside centre, despite calls from supporters and former players for him to be used at inside centre.

Joe Hawkins is the leading contender for the number 12 jersey, although his place is far from guaranteed. Max Llewellyn and Aneurin Owen are also in the frame.

Wales are not short of options in midfield, but finding the right balance between the two centres has proved more difficult.

Could Dragons centre Owen emerge as a surprise option at inside centre? The 26-year-old is a reliable player with a low error count, strong defensive qualities and good distribution.

He could offer the kind of steady presence that allows James to flourish at outside centre.

Who plays full-back?

Blair Murray is likely to be the favourite after starting throughout the summer.

The Scarlets full-back is an outstanding broken-field runner who can bring a game to life and score tries from seemingly nothing.

But his height can be a disadvantage under the high ball, an area in which opponents have exploited him in the past.

Japan's preference for an open, high-tempo style of rugby could play into Murray's hands, but Tandy also has the option of selecting Tom Rogers at full-back.

One of the reasons Rogers left the Scarlets for the Ospreys was to get more regular opportunities in the position, and he impressed in his side's victory over the Dragons at Rodney Parade last month.

His strength under the high ball makes him an attractive option, while he also possesses the pace and footwork to be a threat in broken play.

It is another selection decision for Tandy to consider.