Warren Gatland's side will know before kick-off if destiny is in their own hands but, even if Ireland do derail England's Grand Slam charge, then Wales will also need to overturn a 42-point deficit against a French side smarting from their defeat to Italy.

Scarlets sensation George North steps into Shane Williams' shoes while British & Irish Lion Adam Jones also returns for the injured Craig Mitchell.

Wales have a mixed recent record in Paris with two spectacular victories in 2001 and 2005 but two years ago their run of eight consecutive Six Nations victories was brought to an end in a 21-16 reverse in the Championship's first Friday night fixture.

"We are going into the final round of the Championship in second place and still with a shot at the title," said Gatland, who has won just once in three attempts against Les Bleus.

"That's pleasing, but it is not good enough yet, we need to finish the job and win in France.

"That is the only element of this weekend we can control and it is vitally important that we maintain our focus on what will be one of the toughest challenges of this campaign."

Meanwhile under-fire France coach Marc Lievremont has made five changes to the side which slumped to a humiliating 22-21 defeat to Italy.

Sebastien Chabal and Yannick Jauzion are among those to pay the price for France's insipid display with Imanol Harinordoquy returning to face a side he has on beaten each of the six times he has started against them.

Damien Traille and David Marty will line up in midfield while Thomas Domingo replaces Sylvain Marconnet in the front row and Alexis Palisson gets his chance on the wing.

France have lost five of their nine matches since winning their ninth Grand Slam last season and another defeat would spell their worst Six Nations campaign in ten years.

And captain Thierry Dusautoir, one of the few players spared Lievremont's scathing criticism in the shock defeat to Italy, is adamant nothing less than victory will restore some of the respect they lost in Rome.

He said: "There is a real willingness to finish the tournament in good fashion.

"There is a desire to rediscover some form of respect in our game. You learn often from one's errors and we have been given another lesson in that.

"We are going through a difficult period. I think that we will emerge from it stronger.

"Our objective is to take care of ourselves in the lead-up in the best possible way, and the outcome of the match against Wales will stem from how well we do that.

"Victory would allow us to finish the tournament on a high note, to turn our attentions more positively to the World Cup and preparing for it."