How much should Wayne Pivac twist in selection for Wales’ game against Scotland on Saturday?
He will have to make at least four changes, with Hallam Amos, Johnny Williams, Tomos Williams and Dan Lydiate all ruled out by injuries.
The assumption is that Josh Navidi will step in for Lydiate, with the Cardiff Blue having performed so well off the bench against Ireland. Considering how little rugby he'd played in the weeks and months' beforehand, the dreadlocked destroyer's effort was remarkable.
Likewise, Liam Williams will surely return after suspension to replace Amos.
How Pivac must wish he had players of that quality to fill the other positions in question.
What other spots might have come under the spotlight this week?
We take a closer look...
Who replaces Johnny Williams amid midfield concerns?
A straw poll of the Welsh public might have come up with the name of Jamie Roberts as the answer to the above question.
The Dragons centre has been doing what he does best all season, winning gain-lines, giving his team go-forward and lifting team-mates to greater heights.
He’s even been showing a bit more sleight of hand this term.
Close your eyes for a moment and it isn’t impossible to imagine Roberts scattering Finn Russell or Cameron Redpath back at Murrayfield — perhaps both of them back at the same time.
But it’s not going to happen.
Pivac has opted to draft in Willis Halaholo to cover for Williams.
Skilful and with a nice attacking game, he’s a quality player in his own right, with an altogether different style from Roberts. The question the selectors will have been mulling over is whether to propel him into the starting XV or throw the shirt to Nick Tompkins or Owen Watkin.
Tompkins did pick up a shoulder knock against Ireland but had at least two big interventions in the same match, putting in a key carry in the build-up to George North’s try and causing an Irish ball-carrier to knock-on late in the game.
Such actions should count for something.
George North finished Sunday appearing more than a bit battered and bruised amid a scratched eye and sundry other knocks. How he has shaped up since is another factor that could impact on selection. If he's off limits, Welsh deliberations in the centre could go on long into the night.
Three big calls in the squad for Murrayfield would become four.
What about scrum-half?
What to make of the situation here?
Rhys Webb is now down to fifth No. 9 at best in the Wales pecking order. Few who watched him dominate the Ospreys’ games against Edinburgh and Cardiff Blues this season would have expected such a turn of events.
Webb even reminded Pivac of his quality with two tries against Connacht last time out.
Punctuating those games, there has been the odd patchy effort.
But the Lions tourist from 2107 has the ability to put a stamp on matches.
Judging by the online reaction, many would have been comfortable seeing him lining up at scrum-half against Scotland with Roberts featuring at inside centre.
But, again, it’s not going to happen.
Injury has robbed Pivac of Tomos Williams’ services, so the choice is between Gareth Davies, Kieran Hardy and the called-up Lloyd Williams.
Davies’ unfathomable decision to kick the ball to Ireland in the final seconds, with Wales defending a five-point lead, has probably seen membership of his fan club reduce sharply, but Hardy lacks experience. While Williams has his admirers, might it be harsh to pass over Davies? Many will think not; they don’t pick the team.
Same again alongside Alun Wyn?
It should be.
But it wouldn’t surprise at all if there have been deliberations to the contrary.
The case for a change might be to freshen matters up amid a six-day turnaround.
Also, Wales’ line-out didn’t exactly go well.
But Adam Beard collected five of Ken Owens’ deliveries and pinched one throw off the Irish, so it would be harsh to pin the blame on him for Wales’ failings in that area.
There is also the point that Wales are not going to improve their line-out by repeatedly chopping and changing.
Beard actually had a largely decent game, making a dozen tackles and handling the ball eight times.
If the freshen-up argument wins the day, Will Rowlands could be the beneficiary, having featured among the replacements last weekend.
But Jake Ball and Cory Hill will themselves be hungry for opportunities to prove points.
