By John Stevenson Political correspondent

Michael Howard is proud of his south Wales roots

Such were the problems faced by the Conservatives after the 2001 election defeat some prominent Tories even wanted to change the party's name.

Andrew Lansley, who now speaks on health issues at Westminster, advocated ditching "Conservative" for "Reform".

The party did not take the advice. But it did change the leader: twice!

First Iain Duncan Smith replaced the redoubtable former Welsh Secretary William Hague.

Then in a "regime change" which could have taught George W Bush a thing or two, Michael Howard glided effortlessly in.

Michael Howard says he'll be prime minister. But he also wants to protect his current job if he doesn't make it

Mr Howard will speak at the stadium on Sunday. With his "coalition of the willing," has certainly managed to reinvigorate his troops at Westminster.

He also made much of his Welsh origins in his first conference speech as leader in Bournemouth last September, much as Neil Kinnock used to do.

Significantly, Mr Howard made it clear in that speech the lines of attack he would use in the coming election.

He says he'll be prime minister. But he also wants to protect his current job if he doesn't make it to Downing Street.

The main thrust of the speech at Bournemouth was about what Mr Howard termed the real world: "a world which is very different to the one in which politicians live."

The stadium is more accustomed to sporting spectaculars

The Tory buzzwords of accountability, responsibility and trust are themes to which he has returned time and time again since Bournemouth.

It's clear that this election will concentrate on the delivery of public services under Labour. And more specifically, as the current catfight over patient Margaret Dixon illustrates, the health service.

The Conservatives have pledged an extra �34bn on top of previously announced spending levels to be invested by 2009/10 and a programme of changes which they've termed "right to choose."

The Tories say the proposed abolition of central targets will create an NHS with increased capacity and an improved quality of service where all patients, not just those with money, can choose where to be treated.

In Wales, health is a devolved matter and it's inevitable that the Tories will use assembly First Minister Rhodri Morgan's record as a stick to beat Labour's Westminster candidates.

Nick Bourne will advocate in a lecture that assembly opposition parties bury their differences and work far closer together

But what of the Tory position today on devolution in general?

After the Richard Commission recommended the assembly should gain law-making powers, the Welsh party embarked on an extensive consultation, a classic political ruse to put off making a decision.

Bill Wiggin, the shadow Welsh Secretary, who represents Leominster in Parliament, has already made up his mind, and wants the assembly scrapped.

Publicity-conscious

He says a Conservative Westminster government would offer a "preferendum" with a series of future options.

The number of MPs would also be cut, depending on the result of this preferendum. But if Wales voted to keep the assembly, it would lose more MPs.

Nick Bourne, who leads the Tory assembly group, has said on the other hand that the assembly should be granted law-making powers.

All this is in the context of the Tories having had no Welsh MPs since 1997. David Davies, the voluble and publicity-conscious AM for Monmouth, hopes to change that by winning the same Westminster seat.

Fellow AMs Jonathan Morgan and Alun Cairns are targeting Cardiff North and the Vale of Glamorgan, while Plaid Cymru convert Guto Bebb eyes Conwy.

Next week Mr Bourne will advocate in a lecture that assembly opposition parties bury their differences and work far closer together.

But why wait until then?

This weekend's conference is meant to rally the troops for the election battle ahead Westminster election. Mr Bourne could hardly inspire them with the war cry: "Go back to your constituencies and prepare for opposition"

Or could he?