SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia and Wales take their first steps on the long road they hope will lead to World Cup glory when they clash at Sydney's Olympic stadium on Saturday.
The two sides are drawn in the same group at this year's showpiece event in France and are hoping to gain an early psychological advantage when they meet this weekend, at the same venue where the 2003 final was played.
The Wallabies are favourites to win Saturday's opening test after Wales left 18 of their best players at home, and the omens are not good for the Welsh.
They finished second from bottom in this year's Six Nations championship and have not beaten Australia away from home since 1969.
But the Wallabies have plenty of problems of their own. Australia may have played in three of the last four World Cup finals, winning two of them, but they have been struggling in the past few years.
Coach John Connolly has spent the past year experimenting with different combinations but is still no closer to finding the perfect blend of youth and experience.
Connolly has already made some bold decisions. George Gregan, in his final year of international rugby, has been stripped of the captaincy and relegated to the bench.
Openside flanker Phil Waugh will lead the side on Saturday while Matt Giteau is the new scrumhalf, although Connolly has made it clear Gregan will get at least one last chance to press his claims to the number nine jersey.
Julian Huxley has been handed his first cap as a replacement for injured fullback while wing Drew Mitchell, centre Adam Ashley-Cooper and prop Matt Dunning will make their first test appearances since 2005.
Dunning will partner tight-head prop Guy Shepherdson and hooker Stephen Moore in a new-look frontrow that Connolly hopes will solve Australia's problems at the scrum.
"This will give us a good starting point for the season and help us understand where we're at aa team," Connolly told reporters.
Welsh coach Gareth Jenkins has made no secret of the fact he is treating the two test series as part of his World Cup preparations but has refuted claims from the Australian media his team has no hope of winning.
"We were able to bring a hungry bunch of players out to Australia some of whom did not get the chance, for whatever reason, to play international rugby earlier in the season," Jenkins said.
"There is no doubt that these games are all about World Cup preparation, that's what will ultimately take our focus, but the team themselves will be focussed on being competitive on Saturday and the week after."
Gareth Thomas has been reappointed skipper for his 93rd test appearance, breaking the Welsh record held by Gareth Llewellyn, in a new-look backline.
Mike Phillips is at scrumhalf alongside flyhalf James Hook and the centre pairing of Jamie Robinson and Sonny Parker while flanker Colin Charvis, who was chosen for his 85th cap, adds some experience to the forward pack.
