Despite being sacked by Bayonne last week, Phillips has been named at scrum-half by Warren Gatland to take on South Africa at the Millennium on Saturday.
He will partner Rhys Priestland who gets the nod at fly-half for his first start since December 2012.
Gethin Jenkins will earn his 99th cap at loosehead and starts alongside Richard Hibbard and Adam Jones in the front.
Sam Warburton skippers the team at openside with Dan Lydiate and Toby Faletau joining him in the all British & Irish Lions back-row with Justin Tipuric benched.
Gatland said: “We always say we like to test ourselves against the best and Saturday is going to be just that with a huge game against South Africa first up.
“The Springboks arrive in the UK off the back of their impressive Rugby Championship campaign and we know that we need to start well on Saturday. We go into the series as Six Nations champions but we are looking forward to testing ourselves against the southern hemisphere sides and showing what we are can do.
“Since we have been together, competition in the squad has been good and it is great to have both Rhys and Dan back available for us. Eli has impressed for his Region and whilst with us and it's a great opportunity for him to make his mark in a very experienced side.”
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny (Blues), George North (Northampton Saints), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Unattached), Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Blues), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro), Sam Warburton (Blues, Capt), Toby Faletau (Dragons).
Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Paul James (Bath), Scott Andrews (Blues), Luke Charteris (Perpignan), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) Lloyd Williams (Blues), James Hook (Perpignan), Ashley Beck (Ospreys).
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Mike Phillips is not the first unattached player to play for wales mefin davies was placed in Neath and Colin Charvis played in the lower divisions in France When non of Regions wanted them
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