Wales captain Gareth Thomas will become only the second British player to win 100 Test caps following his recovery in time to face Fiji in the World Cup.

Thomas was on Wednesday included by coach Gareth Jenkins in the team to face the south-sea islanders in Nantes on Saturday after emerging unscathed from training.

A win will guarantee a place in the quarter-finals where South Africa will be waiting.

The 33-year-old full-back, who made his international debut in the 1995 World Cup, feared his tournament, and with it to chance to follow England's Jason Leonard by reaching the century milestone, after damaging rib cartilage against Australia.

He was ruled out of the win over Japan in Cardiff but has won his race to lead the team in their make-or-break encounter with Fiji.

"This is a huge achievement for me and Saturday will be a very special moment," said Thomas.

"There have been many times throughout my career, and recently with the injury, when I never thought I would another cap, let alone reach 100.

"I was pretty low after I was injured against Australia and I did fear the worse, that I would be out of the World Cup and perhaps the chance had gone. But after 48 hours the picture became a lot clearer and I knew that a positive attitude would help bring about a positive outcome. And it has.

"But as much as I will be proud of this achievement, I will always stay true to myself and the game is not about me and never will be.

"This Saturday is about the team winning an important game to get through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup so I have to make sure I don't get caught up in the excitement of the occasion."

As well as becoming just the eighth player in world rugby to become a centurion, the return of Thomas is a major boost to Wales ahead of such a vital game to their World Cup hopes.

Thomas has yet to complete a full 80 minutes at the tournament but his leadership qualities that took Wales to the Grand Slam in 2005 will be crucial to get past this banana skin tie at Stade La Beaujoire.

Coach Gareth Jenkins said: "No side would want to go into a game of this magnitude without its captain, it's as simple as that. Gareth's importance to the team cannot be underestimated, he's reached an historic milestone but no-one will be more focussed on the game than him."

As expected Jenkins has rung the changes to the side that swept passed Japan 72-18 in Cardiff last week however Chris Horsman and Alix Popham retain their places with prop Adam Jones and back-row Jonathan Thomas ruled out through injury.

Lock forward Ian Evans will make his first start for Wales in nine months after returning from a series of shoulder problems. AFP