Wales defender Hayley Ladd will win her 100th cap for Wales when they face Italy at Stadio Brianteo in their opening Nations League match.

Ladd, 31, will become the 10th Welsh player – male or female – to reach the century landmark and skipper the side for the occasion.

Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson confirmed Ladd will start and lead them out after a suggestion from regular captain Angharad James.

"Hayley will earn her 100th cap and she will wear the armband," said Wilkinson. "Our captain Angharad James came to me and asked if that could be a tradition we start.

"The team continues to show me the different ways they find to connect and celebrate these wonderful milestones."

Wilkinson was fulsome in her praise for Ladd's contribution in almost 14 years as a senior Wales international.

She added: "Hayley is dedicated to the badge. She always shows up and is fully committed. She's done that 100 times and it is a milestone that should be marked, it is momentous and a big deal.

"She's earned every one of those caps and the plaudits that she is rightly getting."

Wales midfielder Ceri Holland added Everton's Ladd is a "fantastic team-mate".

"You see it in every way, the amount of passion she has for playing for her country is special and as her team-mate, it is something I have always looked up to," she told BBC Sport Wales.

"She is an incredible human being. Kind, caring, a brilliant team-mate and I think she is really, really important for this group moving forward."

Wales enter the Nations League back in League A, with Wilkinson admitting she expects a tough test in a group also featuring Sweden and Denmark.

Wales will play in Euro 2025 this summer after qualifying for their first major finals and, ahead of a year where they will play a minimum of nine games against nations ranked in the world's top 20, Wilkinson said they are exactly where they want to be.

"We've had a couple of months of not being together and it's really nice to see the group, their energy, they are light and bright and enjoying themselves," she added.

"The Euros are coming up and it's a wonderful thing this team worked very hard to achieve, but we have a six game series to prepare us as well as possible for a historic major tournament.

"We have to try things. We have to look at our whole depth of our wonderful player pool. League A is a privilege to be in and we have earned the right to be there."

Liverpool midfielder Holland said Wales are "not daunted" by their tough Nations League schedule ahead of a ferocious Euro 2025 draw that pitted them against England, France and the Netherlands.

"We are really looking forward to the challenge," added the 27-year-old.

"Being back in League A, we believe we can compete there.

"It's where we want to be. I don't see it as daunting at all, it is what we want as players. If you aren't excited by the challenge, you are in the wrong environment. This is a challenge we are really excited for and we will learn some lessons that will be really crucial for Euro 2025."

Wilkinson said Italy will provide a stern test too.

"I think they are incredibly exciting as a team, a special generation of a team," she added. "I am really looking forward to seeing my team against theirs.

"This is where we have worked hard to be. I expect to see my team step on the pitch and show everyone how good they are.

"We want to be brave enough to show who we are. There are going to be growing pains in this campaign in order to be in the best place come the summer."

Wales boss Wilkinson says she has no fresh injury concerns, with only long-term absentee Sophie Ingle (knee surgery) and midfielder Rachel Rowe (muscular injury) unavailable.

Crystal Palace striker Elise Hughes has returned to the squad after a 10-month rehabilitation from, like Ingle, ACL surgery, but Wilkinson said she will manage her minutes carefully.

"We wouldn't have had Elise in camp if she wasn't ready to play 90 minutes, but she hasn't had 90 minutes yet," added Wilkinson.

"Realistically, I can say she won't be playing 90 minutes."

Midfielder Carrie Jones is available for selection despite the fact her club, Swedish Damallsvenskan outfit IFK Norrkoping are in pre-season.

Jones has not played competitively since she scored the winner in Wales' stunning 2-1 victory in Dublin over the Republic of Ireland that sealed their spot at the Euros.

The 21-year old, who made her Wales debut at 15, said that experience has taken a while to sink in.

"I don't think I'm quite over the moment," explained Jones. "I think it is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

"I think I was quite fortunate the season in Sweden was finished, so I was able to spend some time with family and friends back home. But now it is about looking forward."