Craig Bellamy is to regain the Welsh captaincy and lead the national team in the memorial game for his friend Gary Speed against Costa Rica on Wednesday.
The Liverpool striker takes the armband from Aaron Ramsey for the Cardiff City Stadium match as the Arsenal midfielder is injured an ankle problem.
The 21-year-old went off in Arsenal's FA Cup defeat at Sunderland and missed their 5-2 win over Tottenham on Sunday.
"For obvious reasons Craig will lead the side," said coach Osian Roberts.
"He knew Gary better than anybody, he is a close friend of the Speed family and it seems only right that he should lead Wales on the night."
Wales will be without Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey (ankle) with either Lewis Price or Jason Brown likely to deputise as Birmingham's Boaz Myhill struggles with an Achilles problem.
Wolves midfielder David Edwards is also a doubt because of a knee injury.
Bellamy was a long-time team-mate of Speed with both Wales and Newcastle United so the friendly will be an emotional fixture for the 32-year-old.
He last skippered Wales in their Euro 2012 opening qualifying defeat in Montenegro in September 2010 before resigning from the Wales captaincy in December 2010
Bellamy, fifth in Wales' all-time top goal-scorer list with 19 goals, leads Wales in what could be the Cardiff-born player's 68th and final international in his home town.
He has said he is considering international retirement after Wednesday's friendly but new Wales manager Chris Coleman has talked to Bellamy about extending his international career to the end of the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Ramsey was appointed Wales captain by Speed in March 2011 and the Arsenal playmaker helped guide Wales from 113th in the world and into the top 50 as Speed's side won four of their last five games before the former Wales manager's death in November 2011.
Coleman was confirmed as successor to old friend Speed in January and he admits he "doesn't want to change too much" so has continued with young Ramsey as Wales skipper.
But Ramsey will miss Coleman's first game because of a "small ankle injury" that forced him off in the 53rd minute of Arsenal's 2-0 defeat at The Stadium of Light on 18 February.
Coleman praised vice captain Ashley Williams, after the Swansea defender allowed Bellamy to take the armband.
"It is a real nice gesture from Ashley Williams," said the Wales boss.
"I spoke with Ashley yesterday, and it's a different game, there is no getting around it.
"It's a friendly building to the big one against Belgium in September, but there is a different slant on the game for obvious reasons.
"It is fitting. Aaron is our captain and he will be leading the team out with Gary's two sons, Tom and Ed, and Craig is captain on the night, which is right thing to to and it is also a nice gesture from Ashley Williams."
Speed's father Roger, meanwhile, is to address the squad in the changing room before they take the field.
The match against Costa Rica will be the first that Coleman will be involved with as national boss, although Speed's assistant coach Osian Roberts will take charge of the team on the night.
Roberts was due to lead the team with Speed's other number two Raymond Verheijen until the Dutchman resigned last week - but he has confirmed he will be at the game after being invited by Speed's family.
Wales, who go into the game against Costa Rica have risen seven places to 42 in the latest Fifa rankings , recall Bolton full-back Sam Ricketts, who returns after a lengthy spell out through injury.
Coleman's squad also have a friendly against Mexico in New York booked for 27 May and another against Bosnia-Herzegovina at home on 15 August, and begin their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign at home to Belgium on 7 September.