All but one place in the Welsh team is settled a week out from their opening RWC 2003 Pool D fixture against Wales on 12 October at Telstra Dome in Melbourne, according to coach Steve Hansen.
Hansen says he only has some minor tinkering left to do before naming the team on Friday for the Sunday kickoff. The players selected will be told today (Sunday 5 October).
Two from ten
Wales have won just two of their past 10 internationals scoring 171 points but conceding 294.
Hansen says the two wins, coming in the past two matches over Romania and Scotland, have given the players a clear understanding of what is needed to succeed at RWC 2003.
“Fingers crossed we won't pick up any niggling injuries between now and the first game in Melbourne,” Hansen told Rugby News Service.
"Just tighten a few nuts here, screw in a few screws and make sure that we are ready, ready with our set pieces, ready with our game plan, people understand what their roles are as individuals and as a collective group."
One game at a time
Hansen said it was a cliche but the next game against Canada was at the forefront of welsh thinking.
"If we blow that opportunity it will be very difficult to qualify,” Hansen says. The first game after a break is always the most difficult.
"That's when you are at your most vulnerable. But Canada are in the same position so we need to prepare in an honest and genuine fashion.”
Second spot in Pool D
With competition heavyweights New Zealand expected to go through the pool matches undefeated the battle for second spot amongst the other Pool D sides, Italy, Canada, Tonga and Wales is expected to be tight.
Italian coach John Kirwan has tipped Wales to finish second. Wales lost to Italy for the first time in last season's Six Nations match in Rome.
Australian Rugby League captain Andrew Johns, himself a Welshman, joined training this week, Hansen claiming the man twice voted the bet player in the world sets standards his players should aim to emulate.
“He's going out with a girl from Porthcawl and he comes from a Welsh background, his grandfather was Welsh and came over here (Australia) as a coal miner,” Hansen said.
"He's got good balance in his life, he's probably one of the best trainers going around and certainly one of the best players.”
Hansen put the squad through a series of tough training session since arriving in Australia on Thursday.
Fly half Ceri Sweeney missed two sessions this week with a rib injury, and full back Garan Evans was tucked up in bed suffering from tonsillitis, but both are expected to be fit and available for selection.