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, BBC HD channel, Red Button and online from 1400; listen on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and online; live text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

Fly-half Stephen Jones says Wales must play "high risk and high reward" rugby against Italy in Rome on Saturday.

Wales coach Warren Gatland says Jones is "under pressure" on his Six Nations return with James Hook at 13 because of Jonathan Davies' hamstring strain.

Jones said: "We have to look at the personnel in our team and decide what we are good at, which is 15-man rugby.

"That is the game we want to play, which tends to be high risk and high reward."

Jones, 33, was dropped as Wales ended their eight-match winless run in Scotland with a 26-4 triumph, but returns to win his 98th cap and 80th fly-half start for Wales at Stadio Flaminio.

He added: "We must play our style of game and enforce ourselves on Italy. If we can do that, then I cannot see why we can't be successful.

We trawled Wales for alternatives but wanted to keep within the squad Wales coach Warren Gatland

"We can learn from England, who were smart in the way they played against Italy. They attacked them in good areas and had a lot of tempo and continuity in their game.

"That suited the England team, and it should suit us as well."

Jones' previous Test starts in Rome produced contrasting emotions - a crushing 38-8 win in 2005, then a 23-20 defeat in 2007 when he was captain.

"As a player, if selection doesn't go your way, when you are then given the opportunity you have to try to make the most of it," Jones said. "That has never changed."

Coach Gatland underlined the scrutiny Jones will be under, saying: "He knows he is under a bit of pressure in that role.

"It still doesn't rule James out for potentially playing back at 10.

"But that will depend on the performance of the players against Italy - it is nice position to be in.

"James is familiar playing number 13 for us and it gives Stephen a good opportunity against Italy - and I think he'll respond admirably to the pressure he is under to perform.

"We trawled Wales for alternatives but wanted to keep within the squad.

"It is about getting our best players on the pitch. James has done a great job for us in the centre in the past and had a great game against Scotland at fly-half.

"James is very aware why the decision has been made.

"We would have loved for another midfield option but it potentially weakens the squad if you bring someone in fresh.

"So for continuity the easiest for us to put James in the centre - and it gives us a good attacking option out wide.

"The midfield competition is a concern for us as we have Jonathan picking up the injury and Tom Shanklin and Andrew Bishop injured, it is difficult when you are looking players in the regions that are playing there.

606: DEBATE There are big shoes to fill when Jones retires, just hope that next season in France he [Hook] sorts himself out seagultaf

"You have Casey Laulala and Regan King playing at 13 [for Blues and Scarlets respectively] and often Tommy Bowe plays there for the Ospreys.

"So if you pick up one or two injuries and you do struggle a little bit with depth for picking players into the squad."

One of Gatland's possible long-term midfield options, Gavin Henson, could make his Toulon debut when they travel to Clermont Auvergne on Friday, 4 March in the French Top 14.

Henson hopes to make an impact ahead of the World Cup in New Zealand in the autumn as he continues his comeback from a 20-month sabbatical that began for Saracens in December.

Gatland, though, has long bemoaned the amount of foreign players at Wales' four regions as the Kiwi coach believes it restricts the development of young Welsh talent.

The Welsh Rugby Union's five-year participation agreement with the regions, signed in September 2009, includes a commitment to reduce non-Welsh qualified players to six in each regional squad.

Italy will be smarting following their 59-13 thrashing by England in Twickenham so Gatland is wary against opponents who currently appear destined for the Six Nations wooden spoon.

"Italy will be dangerous after their performance against England, they will be disappointed with that," said Gatland.

"We know how tough they are at home. It has been a banana skin for Wales in the past.

"We went out there a couple of years ago and made 11 changes. It shows how important this competition is for us because we have picked our strongest side against Italy. We need a good performance and a good result."

Wales: Lee Byrne (Ospreys); Morgan Stoddart (Scarlets), James Hook (Ospreys), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Ospreys); Paul James (Ospreys), Matthew Rees (Scarlets, capt), Craig Mitchell (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Blues), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), Sam Warburton (Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys).
Replacements: Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), John Yapp (Blues), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Blues).

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), Leigh Halfpenny (Blues).

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