Warren Gatland is ready to gamble and take only two outside-halves to the World Cup, WalesOnline understands.
Gareth Anscombe and Dan Biggar are, barring injury, certainties to be in his permitted 31-strong squad for the tournament in Japan.
They were the on-field conductors of Wales’ Six Nations Grand Slam with Anscombe starting most matches and Biggar making influential cameo appearances off the bench.
Gatland does have an option of taking Scarlets play-maker Rhys Patchell, who twice started at No.15 against New Zealand three years ago, to the global showpiece as a full-back.
But Patchell first has to prove his fitness and form in training to put himself in contention for World Cup warm-ups against England and Ireland.
The 26-year-old struggled last season with confidence and form issues following a concussion and a hamstring injury.
The 11-times capped Patchell missed a large chunk of it and was nowhere near the level he was for Wales while starring as play-maker during the 2-0 conquest of Argentina last year.
Centre Hadleigh Parkes can play outside-half in an emergency while the Wales camp has previously spoken of Leigh Halfpenny as someone who could provide emergency cover. Both options, however, would be far from ideal should Wales be hit by injury.
Every side at the World Cup can call up injury replacements but rules dictate that change can only be a permanent one. The fact the tournament is being played on the other side of the world also makes things logistically tricky in terms of injury call-ups traveling and acclimatising at short notice.
In terms of his squad conundrums, Gatland said last season: "It could come down to what we decide the make-up of the World Cup squad will be, whether it will be 18/13 (forwards and back) split or 17/14.
"Do you take five props? Do you take two or three 10s? What is your mix between back-row and second-row?"
It seems the Wales coach is already starting to answer those questions, with just 13 backs now likely to travel.
