George North says it will be "very special" to gain membership of Wales' 100-cap club when he lines up against England at 4.45pm.

Wales head coach Wayne Pivac has praised North's attitude and appetite as he prepares to become a rugby union record-breaker.

North will reach a century in the Six Nations clash at the Principality Stadium.

And at 28 years and 320 days, he will eclipse Australia captain Michael Hooper by four weeks as the youngest player to clock up 100 appearances for their country.

North made his Test debut as an 18-year-old wing in 2010, scoring two tries against South Africa, and he becomes the sixth player to hit 100 for Wales after current captain Alun Wyn Jones, Gethin Jenkins, Stephen Jones, Gareth Thomas and Martyn Williams.

"I never thought I would even get one cap for Wales, let alone 100," North said.

"It has been a long road – a load of ups and downs – but it has been worth every single second. I never thought I would get here, so I am really chuffed.

"When you are in the pressure pot, the mixer, you don't really have much time (to think about records), you are on to the next job or the next fixture. They come thick and fast.

"I am sure there will be a time when I am sat there with a coffee telling Jac (North's son) that I used to play rugby once and I was half-decent, but he will probably laugh it off!

"To be able to say I played for Wales is incredible, but to say I was in a very rare club of 100 caps is very special."

Looking back on his first Wales appearance, North added: "It was probably one of my fondest memories ever in a jersey.

"The lead-up to that was a whirlwind ride from Scarlets academy up to having a go with the seniors, playing a few games for Llandovery RFC, then getting a phone call to come into (Wales) camp and then getting my first cap.

"I was fortunate enough to play with some of my heroes that I grew up watching in that game that are still in the camp."

North and Jonathan Davies form Wales' centre pairing having recovered from foot and ankle injuries respectively, while wing Josh Adams returns after serving a two-match ban for breaching coronavirus protocols.

Elsewhere, Liam Williams moves from wing to full-back, replacing Leigh Halfpenny, Kieran Hardy is preferred to Gareth Davies at scrum-half and flanker Josh Navidi also starts.

It will be Navidi's first Wales start since the Six Nations game against England at Twickenham almost a year ago, while Hardy has not previously featured in the tournament.

Dragons front row forwards Elliot Dee and Leon Brown are among the replacements and are joined on the bench by former Rodney Parade favourite Cory Hill.

Wales: L Williams (Scarlets); L Rees-Zammit (Gloucester), G North (Ospreys), J Davies (Scarlets), J Adams (Cardiff Blues); D Biggar (Northampton), K Hardy (Scarlets); W Jones (Scarlets), K Owens (Scarlets), T Francis (Exeter), A Beard (Ospreys), A W Jones (Ospreys), J Navidi (Cardiff Blues), J Tipuric (Ospreys), T Faletau (Bath).

Replacements: E Dee (Dragons), R Jones (Ospreys), L Brown (Dragons), C Hill (Cardiff Blues), J Botham (Cardiff Blues), G Davies (Scarlets), C Sheedy (Bristol), W Halaholo (Cardiff Blues).

England: E Daly (Saracens); A Watson (Bath Rugby), H Slade (Exeter), O Farrell (Saracens), J May (Gloucester); G Ford (Leicester Tigers), B Youngs (Leicester); M Vunipola (Saracens), J George (Saracens), K Sinckler (Bristol), M Itoje (Saracens), J Hill (Exeter), M Wilson (Newcastle), T Curry (Sale), B Vunipola (Saracens).

Replacements: L Cowan-Dickie (Exeter), E Genge (Leicester), W Stuart (Bath), C Ewels (Bath), G Martin (Leicester), B Earl (Bristol), D Robson (Wasps), M Malins (Bristol).