The 21-year-old Stade Toulouse stand-off missed out on his side's 25-0 victory over Italy on Saturday at the Stade de France with neck and shoulder injuries but, as expected, he has replaced Biarritz's Julien Peyrelongue.

And team manager Jo Maso believes young prodigy Michalak will be a key element in Les Bleus success.

In Masos opinion, Michalak has become one of the sides key players in big international matches.

"This is almost the same group as for our matches against Ireland and Italy, and Michalak is back," Maso said.

"We want to focus on a certain continuity within the group and it is logical that Fred came back in.

"He is one of the key players in our squad and we are happy to have him back."

Michalak was also an inspirational goalkicker during the World Cup in Australia, despite his failure in difficult conditions against England in the semi-final.

Against Italy he was replaced in that role by his club team-mate, scrum-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, who also proved a success, putting three of his four kicks over.

Laporte does not know yet who will kick against Wales but he added: "We now have two excellent goalkickers. We have not decided yet who will do it against Wales, and I will let the players decide."

Laporte and Maso will annouce their team on March 3 before travelling to Cardiff the next day.

France squad to face Wales:

Forwards: Yannick Bru (Stade Toulousain), William Servat (Stade Toulousain), Sylvain Marconnet (Stade Francais), Pieter De Villiers (Stade Francais), Jean-Jacques Crenca (Agen), Fabien Pelous (Stade Toulousain, cap.), David Auradou (Stade Francais), Pascal Pape (Bourgoin), Serge Betsen (Biarritz), Imanol Harinordoquy (Pau), Olivier Magne (Montferrand), Thomas Lievremont (Biarritz).

Backs: Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz), Jean Baptiste Elissalde (Stade Toulousain), Frederic Michalak (Stade Toulousain), Brian Liebenberg (Stade Francais), Yannick Jauzion (Stade Toulousain), Damien Traille (Pau), Vincent Clerc (Stade Toulousain), Pepito Elhorga (Agen), Christophe Dominici (Stade Francais), Nicolas Brusque (Biarritz).