Gareth Jenkins is confident his Wales side can beat Australia

Wales coach Gareth Jenkins is delighted with the strength in depth in Welsh rugby, but admits it made his team selection against Australia difficult.

Many of Wales' 2005 Grand Slam side were out with lengthy injuries last year after a tough season that had ended in the Lions tour to New Zealand.

That allowed several youngsters to emerge and stake their Wales claim.

"We're blessed with an extremely strong squad in most positions and had some tough decisions to make," said Jenkins.

"But we have selected on form and form alone... past reputations have been disregarded and we have selected the players that we feel are at the top of their game.

"This squad of 30 or so players is the strongest that Wales have been able to boast for some time, but we are at the beginning of a process as a management group and this is our first chance to get it right."

The backline named to face the Wallabies on Saturday in Cardiff is largely the one beat Ireland in 2005 to claim Wales' first Grand Slam since 1978.

Those players not selected will be given their chances later in the series Wales coach Gareth Jenkins

Only Gareth Thomas was missing that day, with Mark Taylor stepping in for the injured Toulouse three-quarter after the then skipper broke a thumb against France.

But the likes of Llanelli Scarlets pair Mark Jones and Gavin Evans, Mike Phillips and James Hook were all pushing for a starting spot.

In the pack the pressure from the new generation is even more keenly felt, with hooker Matthew Rees and lock Ian Evans claiming starting berths.

A year ago Wales claimed their first win over Australia since 1987 in a 24-22 thriller in Cardiff and Jenkins is confident of repeating the dose.

"Australia will present us with a mighty challenge and there is no chance that we will underestimate them," Jenkins added.

"But we have beaten them at international level before and we have picked a team to go out there and win a game of rugby on Saturday.

"It will be a big day for all of us, a full house at the Millennium Stadium and the eyes of an expectant nation upon us, but we must be ready to rise to the challenge.

"Those players not selected will be given their chances later in the series, but for now we must all get behind this group of players and create the right environment for them to succeed this weekend."

After they kick off their Invesco Perpetual Series campaign against Australia, Wales then face Pacific Islands, Canada and New Zealand on successive weekends.