With 15 internationals on British & Irish Lions duty and a host of players rested or ruled out by injury, McBryde has selected nine new caps.
Emyr Phillips, Scot Baldwin, James King, Dan Baker, Andries Pretorius, Rhys Patchell, Owen Williams, Dafydd Howells and Steven Shingler will all be targeting their first taste of international action.
But there is still plenty of experience with Bradley Davies returning to captain the squad and the likes of Andrew Coombs, Lloyd Williams and Dan Biggar all involved.
“There is one eye on the present and one eye on the future with regards to the make-up of the squad,” said McBryde.
“Because of that the average age of the squad is 23 but you still have guys who have been in the squad for a number of years while you have guys who are coming back on the international stage after being out for a while.
“Two years away there is a World Cup and we want to identify those leaders and see who will represent Wales ahead of schedule if given the opportunity.
“Three of the current British Lions toured North America with Wales in 2009. Nine of the current Six Nations squad toured America and Canada four years ago.
“That is quite a good record when you think of the number of Lions who went away four years ago and the 15 we have now.
“But I am more confident in the other two capability and they have both come to the fore as leaders in the time we have had together.”
McBryde acknowledged there are no genuine openside flankers in his squad and admitted it was a tough call on Josh Navidi but he highlighted the need to develop strength in depth at number 8.
“Straightaway you are going to see there is no out and out seven in the squad,” added McBryde.
“We have two current world-class opensides to be away with the Lions.
“With one eye on the future we need to build a bit of depth as far as No.8 position was concerned.
“It is a tough call on Josh because he was good for us in the Six Nations in the training environment as he has been within this as well.
“There is always a gamble not taking a natural seven. But having said that Aaron Shingler has played well for Wales at seven and James King and Rob McCusker have experience of playing at seven as well.
“We have enough in the make-up of the squad to be combative in that position.”
