Wales v New Zealand: Teams

Danny Jones: Ready to get to grips with New Zealand at Wembley

Full-back Danny Jones says Wales have no fear ahead of Saturday's Gillette Four Nations clash with holders New Zealand at Wembley.

Wales surprisingly qualified for the tournament ahead of France but after going down 42-4 to England in their opening match, they face another stiff test.

The Kiwis also suffered a losing start to their campaign, Australia beating their trans-Tasman rivals 26-12 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington last Friday.

"It's massive," admitted Jones. "It doesn't come much bigger. They're world champions and Four Nations holders.

"We knew winning that game against the French in Albi last year would give us the opportunity to play against the best teams in the world and we're certainly looking forward to it.

"We're not daunted by the task, we're looking forward to getting stuck into it."

Opportunity

Jones, whose father Dai was born in Wales, stops short of talking of a win but believes the side can be competitive if they continue to improve.

"When we got together in south Wales a couple of weeks ago, we talked about wanting to improve our performances each week and I think we've done that from the Ireland game to the one against England," said the Halifax player.

"We were probably a bit disappointed as a team last week. We let ourselves down in a couple of areas but we're definitely looking to improve on that performance and, if we can do that, it will be an achievable goal for us."

The 25-year-old, who made his Wales debut against Italy a year ago, is one of eight part-time players in the squad and is relishing the opportunity to run out at Wembley for the first time.

"We've only got Lee (Briers) who has played there before," he said. "These opportunities don't come around very often.

"You've got to be in a really good side to get there in the Challenge Cup so for us it's a great opportunity and one we're all looking forward to."

Wales will have Lloyd White available for selection this week after the Widnes hooker missed the loss to England with a hamstring injury sustained in his country's warm-up game against Ireland.

Dog fight

Meanwhile, New Zealand are boosted by the return of Adam Blair from suspension - and the prop is eager to make up for lost time.

"We are expected to win this game, but the Welsh boys aren't going to give it to us on a plate," he said. "We are going to have to work hard because we know that they are going to come at us just as hard.

"We want to go out there in the first 20 minutes and just put them to the sword, or else we are going to be in a dog fight."

As well as Blair, coach Stephen Kearney has decided to give a debut to second-row forward Elijah Taylor, who will start on the bench, in the opening match of Saturday's double-header at the famous venue.

Wigan hooker Thomas Leuluai promoted to the starting line-up and there is a recall for Nathan Fien, with Isaac Luke left out of the 17-man squad.

Winger Kalifa Faifai Loa has been dropped with Gerard Beale moving out wide, allowing Alex Glenn, who plays in the second row for Brisbane, to come in to the centres.

Wales (from): C Beasley (Central Comets), A Bracek (Crusaders), L Briers (Warrington, capt), N Budworth (MacKay Cutters), R Divorty (Featherstone), G Dudson (Crusaders), B Flower (Crusaders), T Frizell (Cronulla), J James (Crusaders), D Jones (Halifax), C Kopzcak (Bradford), E Kear (Crusaders), P Lupton (Crusaders), C Roets (South Wales), M Seamark (Wynnum Manly), I Watson (Swinton), I Webster (Central Comets), L White (Crusaders), R Williams (Warrington).

New Zealand: K Lock (NZ Warriors); G Beale (Brisbane), L Brown (NZ Warriors), A Glenn (Brisbane), J Nightingale (St George Illawarra); B Marshall (Wests Tigers, capt), K Foran (Manly); S McKendry (Penrith), T Leuluai (Wigan), B Matulino (NZ Warriors), S Manu (Melbourne), A Blair (Melbourne), J Smith (Cronulla).
Interchange: N Fien (St George Illawarra), J Waerea-Hargreaves (Sydney Roosters), F Moimoi (Parramatta), E Taylor, (NZ Warriors).