November internationals: Mike Ruddock has billed Wales' punishing autumn Test programme as ideal preparation towards their assault on the 2007 World Cup.
The Six Nations Grand Slam champions face New Zealand, Fiji, South Africa and Australia on successive weekends next month, starting with Graham Henry's All Blacks at the Millennium Stadium on November 5th.
It is the toughest schedule any Welsh team has embarked upon, but Ruddock delivered an upbeat message after naming an initial 30-man squad that includes a solitary uncapped player - Llanelli Scarlets fullback Lee Byrne.
"If you want to be the best, you have to play, and beat the best," he said. "We have risen to fifth in the International Rugby Board world rankings thanks to last season's Grand Slam, but over the next month we have to face three of the teams ranked ahead of us.
"We know we face a massive test in November - one no Welsh team in the 124-year history of our game has had to tackle. But in order to prepare properly for the 2007 World Cup, we need this level of competition."
Wales haven't beaten the All Blacks since 1953, while they can reflect on just a single success against South Africa and only three victories over Australia in the last 30 years.
As if to compound Ruddock's degree of difficulty, he must send Wales into battle on Saturday week without injured Lions Gavin Henson, Tom Shanklin, Gethin Jenkins and Ryan Jones.
Three other players of the 26 used during last season's Six Nations are also absent - injured wing Hal Luscombe, dropped utility back Rhys Williams and hooker Robin McBryde, who has retired.
And there is no guarantee Lions outhalf Stephen Jones will be available to face New Zealand either, given he has not yet proved his fitness following ankle trouble. Jones hopes to line up for his club, Clermont Auvergne, against European Cup visitors the Ospreys next Sunday, and Ruddock claimed: "It looks very promising."
But while the coach might have lost several front-line performers, his squad still contains six players each with more than 40 caps to their name, including Newcastle captain Colin Charvis, who missed the Grand Slam campaign because of injury.
"As we showed on the summer tour of North America, when we had 12 players missing on Lions duty and others injured, we were able to keep our cohesion because we have developed much greater strength in depth within the squad," Ruddock said.
"I have been enormously encouraged by the way the team has maintained its cohesion and consistency when we interchanged players, and the team spirit within the camp continues to develop.
"Injuries are something you have got to deal with, whatever level you are playing at. When we've lost players in the past, others have stepped up to the mark."
Byrne's arrival, at the age of 25, is a reward for outstanding form this season.
"Lee Byrne has hit the headlines in recent weeks with a string of outstanding performances for the Scarlets to fully justify his selection," claimed Ruddock.
"He is a hugely exciting footballer who has the size and pace to break through opposition defences.
"He has a fantastic left foot, can play in more than one position and has been given the nod over Rhys Williams because of his rich vein of form.
"The door is not closed on Rhys, who, by his own standards, has just dropped off the pace a little bit. "
Toulouse back Gareth Thomas has reclaimed the captaincy from number eight Michael Owen after missing Wales' final two Six Nations games, against Scotland and Ireland, because of a broken thumb.
Wales squad
Backs: Gareth Thomas, Lee Byrne, Michael Owen, Kevin Morgan, Chris Czekaj, Mark Taylor, Shane Williams, Sonny Parker, Ceri Sweeney, Matthew Watkins, Stephen Jones, Nicky Robinson, Dwayne Peel, Michael Phillips, Gareth Cooper.
Forwards: Duncan Jones, Adam Jones, John Yapp, Mefin Davies, Rhys Thomas, Huw Bennett, Brent Cockbain, Robert Sidoli, Ian Gough, Luke Charteris, Colin Charvis, Jonathan Thomas, Robin Sowden-Taylor, Alix Popham, Martyn Williams.
