Edwards hoping for tactical edge
Shaun Edwards has warned that Wales' tactics will have to be "absolutely perfect" against Australia next Saturday in their quest for a major southern hemisphere scalp.
Wales have not beaten the Wallabies since 2008, losing eight games in a row, while they last toppled New Zealand 60 years ago and South Africa in 1999.
But with Australia lurking in Wales' 2015 World Cup group, a long-overdue victory would send them into this season's RBS 6 Nations Championship on a high.
"We feel we are judged on the Six Nations and World Cups, but we do want to make that step into the elite level of world rugby," Wales assistant coach and defensive specialist Edwards said.
"To do that we have to get that bit of confidence going into Rugby World Cup by not only competing ferociously with the former Tri-Nations teams, but getting one up on them.
"It would be great if we could do it on Saturday. It's not fatal if we don't win, but it will certainly give us a boost if we do.
"We have to play for 80 minutes, mentally and physically. We cannot switch off. Tactically, we have to be absolutely perfect.
"Physically, we are in better condition than we were this time last year. The conditioning staff have done a really good job with all our players and I think we're peaking now, but it's no good me talking about it. We have to show it on Saturday.
"The quality of opponents we are playing against means that any crack in any part of the game will be exploited."
Northampton wing George North is part of preparations this week despite the Australia game falling outside the International Rugby Board's autumn window.
Premiership Rugby, umbrella organisation for the 12 Aviva Premiership clubs including Northampton, have a policy that no non-England players should be released for matches or training camps outside the IRB window.
It is now likely that circumstances surrounding North's release will be investigated, with Saints possibly landing a fine.
Wales and Bath prop Paul James has returned to the Recreation Ground, with Perpignan pair James Hook and Luke Charteris now back in France ahead of next Friday's Top 14 appointment with Clermont Auvergne.
North's fellow British and Irish Lions wing Alex Cuthbert, meanwhile, could make a surprise return to the Wales team against Australia.
Cuthbert suffered an ankle injury while on Heineken Cup duty for Cardiff Blues last month which ruled him out of Wales' November appointments with South Africa, Argentina and Tonga.
But Cuthbert is currently training with Wales, and Edwards has delivered an encouraging fitness bulletin ahead of the Wallabies clash.
"We have not officially called him into the squad yet, but he is training with us and he is just being assessed," Edwards said.
"Fingers crossed, he could potentially, maybe, be fit, but we will just have to wait and see."
