Tighthead Lewis, 25, has 28 caps for Wales, but he hasn’t featured in international rugby since October 2020 and the rearranged Guinness Six Nations defeat by Scotland.
He struggled with injuries in the 2021/22 Guinness PRO14 season, but finished the campaign strongly with a run of games and has now earned a Wales recall.
“I am very pleased,” said Lewis.
“I have had a fair bit of game time with the club in the last few months. There has been an opportunity there and it has been good. I have been pleased with how it went.
“I’m happy to be back in the mix here and back in the squad. Obviously starting this weekend is a great opportunity.
“It was a frustrating season. I picked up a few niggles and a few little injuries I could have done without really.
“To get a run of games was good and now I’m injury-free. I had quite a lot of game time and I took a lot from it. Dai Young coming in at Cardiff as well was good.
“He helped me a lot and spoke to me regularly.”
Wales head coach Wayne Pivac challenged Lewis to improve his game while he left him out of the 2021 Six Nations.
Wales won this year’s Championship title, claiming four victories from five and only narrowly missing out on a Grand Slam following a heart-breaking last-minute defeat by France in Paris.
Asked if he felt if he had improved his game during his time away from Wales, Lewis said: “I do, yes.
“Going back to the game time, those things would only have come from playing regularly, week in and week out and staying injury free. I do feel I have benefited massively from that.
“I am happy with how my game progressed.”
Wales have five uncapped players in their side to face a Canadian side which is coached by three Welshmen in Kingsley Jones, Rob Howley and Byron Hayward.
Wing Tom Rogers and lock Ben Carter both start the game at Principality Stadium for a game which will see 8,200 fans attend.
Rogers and Carter will make their debuts with Gareth Thomas, Taine Basham and Ben Thomas poised to do the same from the bench.
On Canada, Lewis added: “There are a few familiar faces in the coaching staff, aren’t there? I am sure they will be well-rehearsed and will know what is coming.
“I expect a physical game as it’s an international, but I think it will be more about what can we bring.
“There is a big opportunity for a lot of players. It will be a nice change to have fans. It has been some 18 months now since we have played in front of anyone so it is exciting.
“We are looking forward to it. I am sure 8,200 will sound like a lot more after having all that time with no fans in the stadium. It will be good.”
