2011 Six Nations Championship - Italy v Wales
Venue: Stadio Flaminio, Rome Date: Sat, 26 February Kick-off: 1430 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on BBC One and online from 1400; listen on BBC Radio 5 Live, Radio Wales and Radio Cymru; live text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

Mirco Bergamasco and Sergio Parisse celebrate Italy's 2007 win over Wales

Wales skills coach Neil Jenkins admits they are wary of the threat Italy pose in the Six Nations on Saturday in Rome.

England swamped the Azzurri 59-13 in their last outing, but Nick Mallett's side opened with a last-minute 13-11 loss to Ireland in Rome.

And Jenkins says Wales' losses in Italy in 2003 and 2007 are also a reminder of the threat Italy pose.

"We must look at the Ireland game and what Italy did rather than what they did against England," he said.

Eight of Wales boss Warren Gatland's current squad were on the losing side four years ago - James Hook, Shane Williams, Stephen Jones, Dwayne Peel, Matthew Rees, Alun Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones and Jonathan Thomas.

Jenkins believes Italy's mindset will be fuelled by a desire to make a mark on the tournament having suffered at England's hands in their last outing.

And he was keen to remind Welsh fans that Italy were 11-10 ahead in the final moments of their clash with Ireland only for Ronan O'Gara to drop the winning goal.

He said: "Anyone who gets smashed in sport normally comes back a week or whatever it is in the next game and Italy at home will be right up for us on Saturday.

"So I'm not too sure if there's a good time to play Italy, but we can't change what's happened two weeks ago.

"They comfortably lost against England and we've got to focus on our own game and focus on what we're about on Saturday and put our game and our stamp on them.

"There are certain things you can learn and you can watch. Obviously the coaches will watch that game and the [Italy v] Ireland game in depth as well.

"I know Italy are not as strong away from home as they are at home so I think we've got to take that into account as well.

We'd like to carry on from the first 20 or 25 minutes [against Scotland] when we played exceptional rugby Neil Jenkins

"And [Wales must] certainly look at the Ireland game and what Italy did there other than what they did against England a week or so ago.

"A couple of the guys lost there in 2007... so it's just common sense - we know it's going to be a very tough game. If we don't think that, we have got issues.

"We know it's going to be tough. We know what's expected of us and if we can play like we can play we can win the game - there's no doubting that.

"We've got to go there, play well and come away with the win."

Jenkins says Wales are hoping to build on the opening quarter of the 24-6 win over Scotland at Murrayfield that helped restore some confidence following their opening 26-19 Millennium Stadium loss to England.

"We'd like to carry on from the first 20 or 25 minutes when we played exceptional rugby," said Jenkins.

"We kept the scoreboard ticking over, we got 16-0 up and that's what we want, basically. You can't ask any more of your team."

*Follow the Wales team announcement on Tuesday, 22 February from 1300 GMT on all BBC Wales outlets.

Wales squad:

Forwards: Paul James (Ospreys), John Yapp (Blues), Craig Mitchell (Ospreys), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Scott Andrews (Blues), Matthew Rees (Scarlets, capt), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Blues), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Andy Powell (Wasps), Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), Rob McCusker (Scarlets), Dan Lydiate (Dragons).

Backs: Mike Phillips (Ospreys), Dwayne Peel (Sale), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), James Hook (Ospreys), Jamie Roberts (Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Shane Williams (Ospreys), Morgan Stoddart (Scarlets), Lee Byrne (Ospreys), Chris Czekaj (Blues).

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