Chris Coleman has hailed captain Ashley Williams as Wales' "leader" following his rapid recovering from a shoulder injury.
Williams was a doubt to face quarter-final opponents Belgium after sustaining a shoulder problem in the 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland in the last 16 in Paris last Saturday.
He returned to Wales' training base in Dinard on Sunday with his arm in a sling, leaving him facing a race against time to prove his fitness.
But Williams is now expected to start the tie at the Stade Pierre Mauroy on Friday after taking a full part in training with the rest of the squad over the past two days.
"Maybe I'm old fashioned, but you need leaders in your side and we've got a really good dressing room, a good blend, and Ash is the captain," Wales boss Coleman said.
"Everyone looks at this campaign when it's been successful and we're in this position, but it wasn't always like that.
"We had some tough times, dark days and huge disappointments, and that's when you judge people.
"Not on a sunshiney day, but when it's not going so well, that's when you find out about people around you.
"This man (Williams) has never ever disappointed me on or off the pitch. To be captain of this team is a big honour for him, he's worn the armband with pride and passion.
"We tried to take him off the pitch but he wasn't having any of it. When you have a strong dressing room you need a strong character to lead it, and Ash is that.
"There are leaders throughout, they all have something to add. But I'm old fashioned, the captain is important, how he leads the group is extremely important."
The Swansea defender has been outstanding in Wales' progress to the quarter-finals, operating in the central role in the back three, with James Chester and Ben Davies either side of him.