IT'S showdown time, admits Wales full-back Rhys Williams ahead of Saturday's huge World Cup Pool D clash with Italy at Canberra Stadium.

'We wouldn't expect anything else, we have got to target it and we have got to win three out of four games,' said Williams, though he is not sure of being in coach Steve Hansen's team when he names it on Thursday.

The Cardiff Blues player added: 'We lost to Italy in the Six Nations which is sure to be in our minds as far as motivation is concerned, though we shouldn't need it.

'Losing in Rome was a huge disappointment.

'That defeat is always referred to, it's hard to get away from it. It was a long six weeks after that. We didn't like it at all and we've got to set the score right.

'Italy have got a lot of pride and passion, they'll expect to win, and the first 20 minutes will be interesting. We both like to run the ball and play a good brand of rugby.'

The Welsh team watched the Italians against Canada today with interest.

Williams said: 'We have got to make sure we are better than them. We have got to make sure we are mentally right.'

One player with mixed emotions on the night will be lock Robert Sidoli, now a fully fledged Welsh international but with an Italian father.

He said: 'It's a matter of personal pride for me with my dad. This is always full of great emotions.

'I know what their morale was like when they won. They've developed and I want to get that feeling in our camp.'

If he is in the side the language change will even be a boost for Wales because Sidoli, brother of Newport Gwent Dragons lock Peter Sidoli, knows more than a smattering of Italian.

'I've got a strong affinity with Italy, we go there for a month at a time as a family and if they make simple line-out calls, I'll be listening in. My dad will be waving both flags. In rugby he's Welsh and in football he's Italian.'

Sidoli had a chance to join top Italian side Treviso a few years ago, but opted to stay in Wales, a decision he doesn't regret.

Despite Sunday's ineffective performance against Tonga, Sidoli believes Wales can turn it to their advantage.

'It was frustrating we didn't take our chances, but it's a game we won that before we might have lost,' he said. 'We are not going out just for revenge on Saturday, we are looking to continue the past couple of results (Wales have now won four in a row).'