Martyn Williams takes on New Zealand's Joe Rokocoko in last season's autumn Test
Martyn Williams says Wales' belief they can beat New Zealand for the first time in 56 years next weekend is genuine.
Williams, 34, admits that earlier in his career Wales took the field against the All Blacks lacking that confidence and aiming to keep the score down.
He said: "Physically and mentally they were way ahead of us, but I think the gap has definitely shortened.
"They're still a world-class side, but I think we've improved a lot as a group, individually and collectively."
Williams has had one game since post-British and Irish Lions tour shoulder surgery - for Cardiff Blues against Ospreys - but is expected to take on fellow world-class openside Richie McCaw at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
The Welshman admits there have been times when he and his team-mates have done so fearing the outcome of such a fixture. But not any more.
"I'm not afraid to admit - and I think a lot of players would say - maybe in the past you'd go out and more or less just try to keep the score down against New Zealand because you had no chance of beating them," Williams said.
"I'm sure over recent years we have gone out there with a genuine belief we could win.
"We haven't actually done that. I think last year at half-time we just genuinely believed we could go on [and win] but, full credit to them, they showed how good a side they were and outplayed us in the second half."
Wales led 9-6 at half time on an occasion made memorable by a post-haka stand-off, but the visitors hit back after the break to win 29-9.
Williams believes Wales can sustain their challenge on this occasion, but says despite their Tri-Nations tribulations the All Blacks remain a potent, world-class force.
"A lot of it [the belief] just comes with playing them more often," he said.
"It was once in a blue moon you played New Zealand before and this aura came over that they were invincible, whereas now you play against them more regularly.
"And obviously as well we're a lot fitter and stronger than we used to be and our structure is in place to help us try and beat these top sides.
Wales face down All Blacks' haka
"So it's a mixture of things but we still haven't done it yet. It's great talking about it but we really need to try and win.
"They've lost in the Tri-Nations to probably one of the best sides the professional era has ever seen, in South Africa.
"And I think they [New Zealand] could have beaten them out in South Africa. There were certain key points in those games which could have changed the game and they could have won.
"But still, you look at the team-sheet and it's [Dan] Carter, McCaw, [Ma'a] Nonu… still world-class players in a world-class side.
"You never underestimate New Zealand. Perhaps they didn't have the success they would have liked and the country would have liked in the Tri-Nations.
"But they are still an unbelievable side and we are going to have to be right at the top of our game to beat them."
*Wales coach Warren Gatland will announce his side to face New Zealand at 1300 GMT on Monday, with full details available on the BBC Sport website.
Wales squad for autumn international series:
Backs: Dan Biggar James Hook, Shane Williams (Ospreys); Gareth Cooper, Jamie Roberts, Tom Shanklin, Tom James, Leigh Halfpenny (Blues); Martin Roberts, Stephen Jones, Jonathan Davies, Mark Jones (Scarlets); Dwayne Peel (Sale).
Forwards: Paul James, Duncan Jones, Craig Mitchell, Huw Bennett, Alun Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones (capt), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys); Gethin Jenkins, Bradley Davies, Andy Powell, Sam Warburton, Martyn Williams (Blues); Matthew Rees, Dafydd Jones (Scarlets); Luke Charteris, Dan Lydiate (Dragons).
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