Wales v Australia: Wales, like England, have won none of their last five Tests, but unlike their rivals across the Severn Bridge they are not going into their autumn series desperately seeking salvation. Wales are favourites to beat Australia, a position they have not been in for more than a generation, and are looking for their first back-to-back victories over the Wallabies since 1975.

While they, like England, have shaken up their management team since the Six Nations, they have a settled air, both in terms of selection and playing style. As England grub around for players, Wales can afford to leave out Lions such as Michael Owen, Gareth Cooper, Colin Charvis and Dafydd James. Injury-ravaged a year ago, Wales are back to full strength, apart from the prop Chris Horsman who plays for Worcester today.

After decades of not just subservience to the major Southern Hemisphere nations but abject humiliation, they have the potential to prove this month that they will not be going into next year's World Cup with their usual aim of scraping into the quarter-finals.

Wales head coach Gareth Jenkins intends to take the game to Australia up front and the inclusion of the big-kicking Gavin Henson at inside-centre is evidence they will play a positional game, while the inclusion of Jonathan Thomas in the back row gives them a fourth lineout option.

Wales won the corresponding fixture last year through their tight five. They were outplayed behind, but while Australia's set-piece play has since improved, Wales have Henson and Tom Shanklin back in harness in midfield and their back division is as good it was in 2005, when they won the grand slam.

Australia's strength remains behind the scrum. They have moved Stephen Larkham from outhalf to inside centre and are trying Matt Giteau at scrum-half.

Lote Tuqiri exploited Wales's lack of balance in midfield a year ago, but he should enjoy less space today.

"Welsh people seem to be writing us off and that's pretty stupid," said Tuqiri. It is not so much a dismissal of Australia's threat as recognition that, for the first time since the heady days of the 1970s, Wales might be expected to cope with it.

Guardian Service