SIMON Davies insists Mark Hughes' pace-setting Welsh troops will don their hard-hats and armour and await the Italian bombardment in the Euro 2004 qualifier in Milan on Saturday.

"The Italians will be hunting for revenge," feared the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder.

Davies was an inspiration when Wales last locked-horns with the mighty Azzurri last October in the Millennium Stadium and scored the opening goal as Hughes' men put Italy to the sword 2-1.

"We played really well against them last year and I'm sure we surprised the Italians," remembered the 24-year-old.

"Now we're going to their own back-yard and they are looking to do the same as we did to them.

"It has been nearly a year but that win in Cardiff has filled us with belief that we are capable of beating Italy.

"We know, though, that it will be a different game in the San Siro. We'll probably have to defend for large parts of the game but we have beaten them before so hopefully we can get a positive result on Saturday.

"It could have been a lot worse for the Italians in Cardiff. We did play very well that night and it was great to be a part of it.

"We've done it before so we've got nothing to fear.

"It will be a massive test, they are among the best teams in the world and we'll find out how good we really are.

"We must play well, do our job, get a positive result and enjoy ourselves."

Davies has played in the last nine consecutive competitive outings for his country and is maturing into a fine international performer. He was shattered following Wales' heart-breaking narrow defeat in Serbia and Montenegro last month - but Davies has promised the Welsh faithful Hughes' men will bounce back.

"The disappointment from Serbia is still fresh in everyone's memory so I think that will spur us on," said the 16-times capped player.

Davies, however, admitted his own club form is in drastic need of improvement. "I don't feel I've played that well for Tottenham," he opened-up.

"It hasn't been clicking for me at the minute and I'm just going through one of those blips that I desperately need to get out of.

"I'm not looking for any excuses. Maybe I'm putting too much pressure on myself and it's difficult because I want to do well but I'll work as hard as I can to recapture my form.

"Coming away with Wales, though, has been a welcome distraction and I've been playing well for my country because it is a positive squad."