Wales v Australia: Everything you need to know
Today's the day for Warren Gatland's men as they begin their pursuit of a major rugby prize that's eluded them for six years.
Not since November 2008 and the 11th game of head coach Gatland's current 82-Test reign have Wales floored a southern hemisphere heavyweight.
On that occasion it was Saturday's opening autumn Test opponents Australia, beaten 21-18 just eight months after Wales were crowned RBS 6 Nations champions in Grand Slam fashion.
"We are pretty aware we have been knocking on the door and put ourselves in situations - perhaps not against the All Blacks, but definitely against South Africa and Australia - on a number of occasions to win games," Gatland said.
This weekend's clash is given added emphasis by the fact that Wales and Australia will lock horns during next year's Rugby World Cup in a fearsome pool that also includes England and Fiji.
The Wallabies have arrived with a new coach - former Leinster supremo Michael Cheika.
"We're expecting a really tough game on Saturday", Gatland added."I have got a massive amount of respect for what Michael Cheika has achieved. He is the only coach who has won a European Cup and a Super Rugby title".
Starting this afternoon on the Millennium Stadium's new £3.1m artificial pitch, Wales will play 12 Tests before their World Cup opener against Uruguay next September, and Gatland has made no attempt to hide the fact that rugby's global spectacular tops his agenda.
"We've really looked at the long-term plan in terms of this campaign, the Six Nations and the World Cup," he said.
"We have run things a little differently in this campaign and we will in the Six Nations, almost like World Cup camps in terms of long-term preparation and planning."
MATCH FACTS:
* The countries have met on 37 occasions - Australia lead the series 26-10, with one draw.
* Wales' record win in the series was a 28-3 success in 1975, while Australia boast a best of 63-6 in 1991.
* Australia have won the last nine Tests against Wales.
* Saturday's game will be the last meeting between Wales and Australia until they clash in the Rugby World Cup pool stages next year.
* Wales have not beaten one of the southern hemsiphere giants - Australia, New Zealand or South Africa - for six years.
* Australia flanker Sean McMahon will make his international debut on Saturday.
* Full-back Leigh Halfpenny needs five points on Saturday to reach 400 for Wales in Tests.
WALES:
L Halfpenny (Toulon); A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), G North (Northampton), J Roberts (Racing Metro), L Williams (Scarlets); D Biggar (Ospreys), R Webb (Ospreys); P James (Bath), R Hibbard (Gloucester), S Lee (Scarlets), J Ball (Scarlets), A-W Jones (Ospreys), D Lydiate (unattached), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements: S Baldwin (Ospreys), G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Scarlets), B Davies (Wasps), J Tipuric (Ospreys), M Phillips (Racing Metro), R Priestland (Scarlets), C Allen (Cardiff Blues).
AUSTRALIA:
I Folau; A Ashley-Cooper, T Kuridrani, C Leali'ifano, J Tomane; B Foley, N Phipps; J Slipper, S Fainga'a, S Kepu, S Carter, R Simmons, S McMahon, M Hooper (capt), B McCalman.
Replacements (from): J Hanson, T Faulkner, B Alexander, J Horwill, W Skelton, M Hodgson, W Genia, Q Cooper, R Horne.
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa).
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) and Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland).