GWENT'S James Collins believes that his experiences with Wales will help to prepare him for the next step in his rapidly progressing career, playing Premiership football.

Collins, 20, from New-port, who was outstanding at the end of last season at the heart of Cardiff City's defence, is set to start for Wales against Latvia today despite losing his place in the Cardiff line-up.

But Collins feels his time with Wales will benefit both club and country.

He explained: "I love going away with Wales because even training with the guys is brilliant, playing alongside the Premiership players helps me as a player because it shows me the level I need to get to.

"And to be honest I don't get worried about facing world class international players because I play against Robert Earnshaw in training every day and the stuff he does is absolutely amazing."

Collins, who impressed in his debut for Wales against Norway in a recent friendly when he nullified the threat of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has lost his place in the Cardiff side to Robert Page, who he is ironically likely to partner for Wales today with Cwmbran's Danny Gabbidon out injured.

But Collins has no complaints about being left out and concedes that he has not deserved a starting place.

He said: "If the gaffer is picking the team based on our pre-season form I can't criticise him for not picking me, I don't deserve to be in the team at the moment.

"Obviously it is a bit unusual to be in a situation where I could start for Wales and I am not in the Cardiff side, but that is something I need to accept.

"I came back for pre-season training having not thought about football all summer and now we have come back so quickly I am not really playing well enough to edge anyone out.

"If I play today I will give it my best shot as I always do and hopefully if Lennie (Lawrence, the Cardiff manager) is watching me for Wales that may make him think of picking me for Cardiff.

"But I will certainly not think about leaving Cardiff City though, that is for certain. I am not even established yet in the Cardiff side.

"I have set myself the goal of playing more games than I did last season and that is my target for the season."