EXPERIENCED fly-half Elinor Snowsill returns to pull the strings for Wales Women as they attempt to end the Six Nations with back-to-back wins.

The 29-year-old Bristol playmaker is back in the XV to win her 52nd cap after coming off the bench in the last-gasp 17-15 win against Scotland while the only other change sees Alisha Butchers get the nod at blindside flanker.

Wales ended a seven-game streak without victory in the championship when Lleucu George converted Siwan Lillicrap's try at the death.

If they back up that success at Cardiff Arms Park on Sunday (kick-off 1.30pm) then they will leapfrog the Irish into fourth place.

Head coach Rowland Phillips said: "We want to capitalise on the confidence we've gained from the win over Scotland.

"We've shown a huge amount of character throughout this tournament – to hold Italy out at the end of that game and to come back from behind to win in Scotland showed remarkable attitude – and skill for such a young side.

"Despite that, I don't feel we have shown how good a side we are and we'd like to do that on Sunday."

Wales produced battling displays against the powerhouse duo of England and France and could easily have sneaked victory against Italy when forced to settle for a share of the spoils 3-3.

They are eighth in World Rugby's rankings with the Irish a place below them after also having a solitary win against the Scots in the Six Nations.

This weekend's visitors were beaten 29-27 in Italy and are fresh from a 47-17 loss to the French at Donnybrook in Dublin.

"Ireland are in a similar place as us. They played well against France last weekend," said Phillips.

"They have a strong back row and players who can make a difference. We certainly won't be underestimating them.

"However, we want to focus on ourselves, show what we can do with the ball and produce a better all-round performance. There's a big game in us and hopefully we can showcase that on Sunday."

Dragons prop Caryl Thomas and flanker Bethan Lewis, a try scorer in Glasgow, start with front rower Cerys Hale among the replacements.

Tickets are available to print at home from cardiffblues.com/tickets and from 10am on the day of the game at the WRU shop in Westgate Street.

Wales Women: Lauren Smyth (Ospreys); Jasmine Joyce (Scarlets), Hannah Jones (Scarlets), Lleucu George (Scarlets), Jess Kavanagh (RGC); Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Bears), Keira Bevan (Ospreys); Caryl Thomas (Dragons), Carys Phillips (captain, Ospreys), Amy Evans (Ospreys), Gwen Crabb (Ospreys), Mel Clay (Ospreys), Alisha Butchers (Scarlets), Bethan Lewis (Dragons) Siwan Lillicrap (Ospreys)

Replacements: Kelsey Jones (Ospreys), Cara Hope (Ospreys), Cerys Hale (Dragons), Alex Callender (Scarlets), Manon Johnes (Cardiff Blues), Ffion Lewis (Scarlets), Robyn Wilkins (Blues), Lisa Neumann (RGC)