SIX NATIONS 2009 - ITALY v WALES Venue: Stadio Flaminio Date: Saturday, 14 March Kick-off: 1500 GMT Coverage: Live on BBC ONE Wales and online, full commentary on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and online plus score updates on BBC Radio 5 Live
Fly-half James Hook wants to stake his claim to a regular Wales place
James Hook has warned Wales against seeking to boost their Six Nations title hopes by trying to pile on the points too early against winless Italy.
The fly-half says he and his team-mates must first concentrate on meeting Italy's physical challenge on Saturday.
Hook said: "They (Italy) have got a couple of points to prove.
"If we go searching for tries early on we're going to come unstuck, so it's important for us to get the win and hopefully the tries will follow."
Hook takes over from Stephen Jones in the number 10 jersey, one of 10 changes that coach Warren Gatland originally made to the starting line-up that lost in France.
However, scrum-half Dwayne Peel pulled out on Tuesday having injured a hamstring playing for Sale at the weekend.
That sees Hook's Ospreys team-mate Mike Phillips resume in the number nine shirt he wore in Paris, with London Irish stand-off Warren Fury filling out the bench.
Hook focused on Six Nations title
"It's a huge blow for Dwayne. We've both been itching for a start and unfortunately he's picked an injury up and he won't be playing," Hook said.
"Hopefully it won't be too much of a problem because we've got a full week with Mike just coming back in to train.
"It would have been a lot worse if he'd [Peel] pulled out at the last minute."
Although Italy are struggling this season and seem set for the wooden spoon, Hook says the Azzurri should not be underestimated - especially on home turf in Rome.
"I played there two years ago and [it was] a hugely physical game. They gave 100%, they chuck everything into it," Hook said.
"So we've got to be ready for that and we know the challenge they're going to pose.
"But we've got to focus solely on the win."
Hook, 23, is delighted to have the opportunity to stake a claim to face Ireland the following weekend in what is likely to be the tournament decider.
He has played second fiddle this season to Scarlets fly-half Jones and said: "It's an opportunity for myself and a lot of other boys.
"We've been training really hard over the last six weeks and the opportunity's come, so we've just got to try and take it on Saturday.
"It is frustrating [not being selected], but in fairness to Stephen he's been playing really well and he's a difficult man to budge at the moment, so I've just got to be thankful.
"I've been involved in the 22 for the whole of the autumn and the Six Nations, so I've got to take my opportunity now when it comes and put myself in the shop window for selection against Ireland.
"We've got to try and pay Warren [Gatland] and the rest of the coaches back for selection by playing well.
"It was a little bit of a surprise, 10 changes, but it shows the confidence he's got in us to make those changes.
"He's a good coach. He wouldn't make those changes for nothing so we've got to try and repay him."
Wales: Lee Byrne (Ospreys); Mark Jones (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Blues), Gavin Henson (Ospreys), Shane Williams (Ospreys); James Hook (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Ospreys); John Yapp (Blues), Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Rhys Thomas (Dragons), Luke Charteris (Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (capt, Ospreys), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), Andy Powell (Blues). Replacements: Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Bradley Davies (Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Warren Fury (London Irish), Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Tom Shanklin (Blues).
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