After missing out in Sydney last Saturday, Wales will complete their two match Australasian tour in Hamilton tomorrow against the All Blacks.

And although it is now eight months and as many matches since Wales last registered a Test match victory, there was a rather confident air around the tour party as the final preparations took centre stage.

Furthermore, the ebullience which is normally associated with All Black rugby is certainly not in evidence.

A little shell-shocked after conceding further ground to England and honestly concerned about the challenge that Wales will offer, New Zealand rugby is starting to show a chink in its armour. Well, at least that's the hope.

Considering it is 50 years since Wales last won a game against them and that NZ rugby has just come off another Super 12 success, it comes as something of a surprise that for once, the boot is on the other foot.

However, if today's press conference is anything to go by, it certainly is.

Such was the pre-occupation with Wales and how the All Blacks were trying to come to terms with last weekend, that captain Reuben Thorne spent much of the media briefing waxing lyrical about tomorrow's opposition rather than concentrating onhow the All Blacks could avenge last week's desperate disappointment.

The media might have written off Welsh chances, but the All Black players have certainly not.

Thorne said: "You only have to look at last weekend to see which side is playing the better rugby. They come here off a good performance against the Wallabies and will be confident of doing well.

"We have watched that game and there were some outstanding displays from the likes of Colin Charvis, Martyn Williams and the young half backs. We will have to step up from last weekend, otherwise we will find ourselves in the same position."

Coach John Mitchell has made eight changes in all with the emphasis very much on blooding a handful of relatively new faces ahead of the Tri Nations Championship. However, on the evidence of last Saturday's disappointment in Wellington, at least five of the changes would have been made anyway.

Wales coach Hansen said: "There is no such thing as a poor All Black, so you can expect to see 15 top-class players out there. And all of them will be keen to prove that they are good enough to play in the Tri Nations and World Cup.

"But that's enough about them. I want to concentrate on what we are doing and how quickly we can build on Saturday's performance.

"They can make changes from a position of relative strength - we started from a much lower position and therefore, we have to move quickly. We have resisted change because we want to grow as a side and it's important that we stick together as a bunch and learn how to play with each other on the toughest stage."

Dafydd Jones comes in for Jonathan Thomas - the only alteration to the side that lost 30-10 in Sydney - while Alix Popham gives way on the bench to allow Thomas to take his place among the replacements.

The back row battle will possibly be the most intriguing of the night - messrs Charvis, Jones and Williams are far more experienced than their opposite numbers with Thorne admitted, "maybe we can learn a few things from then".

The biggest concern for Wales is obviously the back-lash from last Saturday's defeat in Wellington.

However, they should also be aware that after such a disappointing and drab affair, the All Blacks are keen to treat the Hamilton public to a little more excitement. Thorne said: "We are going to run it, it's as simple as that."

Whether that's a double bluff, remains to be seen, but for Welsh rugby there is little doubt that tomorrow's game represents their best chance yet to prove that the flagging national sport is ready to close the gap still further.