Head coach Declan Kidney has named an unchanged starting line-up for Ireland's fourth game of the 2011 Championship.
The replacements bench also remains the same from the recent 21-18 win over Scotland, with Leo Cullen recovering from a slight groin problem.
Flanker David Wallace will win his 70th cap when he lines out alongsideJamie Heaslip and Sean O'Brien in the back row. It will also be his 40th appearance in the Championship.
Speaking on team announcement day, Kidney said: "Everything points to there not being a lot being between ourselves and Wales. We've a huge game ahead of us.
"Going to Cardiff, depending on what era you're from, it was always a daunting task at Cardiff Arms Park. Myself, I was more JPR Williams and Barry John's time and you always knew it was going to be a tough game at the Cardiff Arms.
"When we played them at the Millennium Stadium two years ago, there was literally that one kick of the ball between the sides.
"These lads play each other three times a year - at least twice in the domestic league and then at this level - and the fact that they know each other so well, space is going to be at a premium.
"It will be one of those games that whoever takes their chances will come out on top."
Meanwhile, Wales head coach Warren Gatland has brought Leigh Halfpenny and Jonathan Davies into the starting line-up for the visit of Ireland.
The Welsh pack from the 24-16 win over Italy remains unchanged, but there are four alterations - two of them positional - to the back-line.
James Hook moves from outside centre to out-half, where he started against Scotland last month, as Jonathan Davies returns from a hamstring injury to reform his centre partnership with Jamie Roberts.
Leigh Halfpenny replaces Morgan Stoddart on the right wing, with Stoddart dropping to a replacements bench which also includes Stephen Jones, Dwayne Peel, Richard Hibbard and John Yapp.
Scrum half Mike Phillips and his Ospreys team-mate Ryan Jones will start against Ireland, winning their 50th caps for Wales.
Head coach Warren Gatland said: "This is a crucial game for us as a win will keep us in the Championship mix and take us into that final round with everything still to play for. But it is also a big game for Ireland who are in a similar position to us going into this match."
Forwards coach Robin McBryde added: "The forwards had a tough day at the office in Italy and we were not at our very best so we are looking for a step up in performance this weekend.
"Ireland will be tough, they have a well-drilled set piece game, are good around the field and are strong defensively.
"They bring intensity to the breakdown area which is always so crucial in these big games and it will be up to us to match them if we are going to be able to provide a platform for our exciting backs to play."
WALES: Lee Byrne (Ospreys); Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Shane Williams (Ospreys); James Hook (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Ospreys); Paul James (Ospreys), Matthew Rees (Scarlets) (capt), Craig Mitchell (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Cardiff Blues), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys).
Replacements: Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), John Yapp (Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Rob McCusker (Scarlets), Dwayne Peel (Sale Sharks), Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Morgan Stoddart (Scarlets).
IRELAND: Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster); Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (capt), Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Keith Earls (Thomond/Munster); Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster), Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster); Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster), Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster), Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster), Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster), Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster), David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster), Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster).
Replacements: Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht), Tom Court (Malone/Ulster), Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster), Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster), Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster), Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster).
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Peter Allan (Scotland)
Television Match Official: Geoff Warren (England)
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