Steve Tandy has some big selection calls to make this week

Steve Tandy will name his Wales team to face Japan on Saturday in the coming days, although the broad outline of his selection is likely to have been settled before the squad assembled last week.

The Wales head coach would have had a clear idea of his preferred XV going into the camp, barring any late fitness concerns. But there are still positions to be decided, with performances on the training field likely to have a bearing on the final selection.

Others will depend on the outcome of ongoing injury assessments, meaning there remains an opportunity for players to force their way into contention before Tandy makes his call.

The front row is perhaps the easiest part of Tandy’s selection to predict. It is difficult to see him looking beyond Rhys Carre, Dewi Lake and Tomas Francis.

Carre has been a regular fixture in the Wales side over the past year, Lake has been outstanding for Gloucester, while Francis remains the strongest scrummager available to the head coach.

Dragons lock Ben Carter suffered a head knock against the Ospreys but is expected to be fit and should partner Dafydd Jenkins in the second row.

Jac Morgan and Aaron Wainwright are nailed on to start in the back row, but the blindside flanker position is considerably less certain.

Tandy is a big admirer of Alex Mann, who made a Six Nations record 33 tackles in Wales’ defeat by Ireland in Dublin in March.

Taine Plumtree is another option, with his athleticism offering a different dimension.

Tandy could also move Wainwright to blindside flanker, opening the door for either Kane James or Taine Basham to start at No 8.

Tomos Williams is one of the first names on the team sheet at scrum-half, but the battle for the No 10 jersey is far less settled.

Dan Edwards is currently in possession of the shirt, although Sam Costelow will be pushing hard for a recall after injuries disrupted much of his previous season.

The Scarlets playmaker was outstanding in Wales’ narrow defeat by Scotland during the Six Nations and there was a strong argument that Wales might have won had he not been forced off.

Edwards is perhaps the slight favourite, but the position remains very much up for grabs.

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

Joe Hawkins is the leading contender for the No 12 shirt, although his place is not guaranteed. Max Llewellyn and Aneurin Owen are also in contention.

In the back three, Louis Rees-Zammit is another who looks certain to start. He is expected to feature on the wing rather than at full-back, with Blair Murray currently favourite to wear the No 15 shirt.

Murray has impressed for the Scarlets, particularly with his attacking contribution, but Tom Rogers is making a strong case for the full-back position.

There is also a decision to be made over the remaining wing spot.

Josh Adams has considerable credit in the bank and, although he may have lost some of his former pace, his defensive work and reliability under the high ball remain valuable assets.

Ellis Mee and Gabriel Hamer-Webb are also pushing for selection, while young Scarlets wing Macs Page may have to wait a little longer for his Test debut.

Likely Wales team to face Japan: Blair Murray; Louis Rees-Zammit, Eddie James, Joe Hawkins, Ellis Mee; Dan Edwards, Tomos Williams; Rhys Carre, Dewi Lake (captain), Tomas Francis, Dafydd Jenkins, Ben Carter, Alex Mann, Jac Morgan, Aaron Wainwright. Replacements: Ryan Elias, Nicky Smith, Archie Griffin, Teddy Williams, Kane James, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Sam Costelow, Max Llewellyn.