GEORGE North is relishing the chance to get plenty of ball in hand after moving from wing to centre for Wales’ crunch World Cup clash with Australia.

The 23-year-old forms an imposing midfield partnership with Jamie Roberts for the clash that will decide who claims Pool A top spot, thus avoiding the half of the knockout draw that contains South Africa and New Zealand.

North scored a try from 13 in the Six Nations clash against France in 2014 and last autumn caused the Wallabies plenty of problems from midfield.

He heads into the game on the back of a performance against Fiji in which he started brightly but then faded, with many pundits pondering why he didn’t go looking for more work.

However, North just enjoy plenty more touches after moving inside as part of a lively set of three-quarters.

“I’m just happy to be on the park,” he said. “First and foremost to be playing is always good.

“As a wing you have more freedom to roam and do bits and bobs while 13 is a bit more structured but you get more ball in hand.”

He will also have to be on his game defensively against a savvy set of Australian three-quarters that features two playmakers in Bernard Foley and Matt Giteau plus dangerous strike runners Drew Mitchell, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Israel Folau.

“The way we defend, the wingers play a big part and noise from outside in is key,” said North.

“It’s not an easy move but easier than going from inside to out. Knowing as a winger what a 13 and the requirement of the man outside makes my role easier.”

Wales head into the game looking to end a 10-Test losing streak against the Wallabies but North is confident that the squad have learnt from a series of tight encounters.

“I don’t think it’s a mental block,” he said. “We are constantly developing and as a squad we are pushing on.

“Each game that we play we learn a little bit more about ourselves and how to close the game out.”

If Wales can turn the tables then they will not only emerge from the group of death but qualify as table-toppers, a big statement according to North.

“Last World Cup went in as massive underdogs and nobody really paid attention to us and we went about our work,” he said.

“This World Cup we’ve had more coverage being in the pool that we are in. We’ve had to dig in on occasions with the injuries we have had and to finish top would show where we want to go.”