MARK Hughes has laid down the law to his Welsh stars ahead of their Millennium Stadium friendly with Bosnia-Herzegovina, insisting "They should not underestimate the importance of this game."

The Welsh boss is desperate not to let their 100 percent start to the Euro 2004 Group Nine qualifying campaign slip and with crunch showdowns with Azerbaijan and Yugoslavia on the horizon, he needs his heroes to get back in the international groove.

The Bosnia clash in Cardiff on February 12 comes as club's domestic and European campaigns begin to hot-up - but Hughes has warned his players any relenting in Wales' preparation could have a drastic effect on their road to Portugal.

Hughes' burning ambition is to guide his country to their first major final for 44 years but any resting on laurels, could see that dream fade into the distance.

"There's a lot of things said about the value of friendly games," said Hughes. "But it's important to us with the situation we're in.

"Given the crucial games in front of us it's important that we get together as a group and I feel it's a valid excercise. I hope that as many of the players I have picked in the squad attend because the importance of this game shouldn't be underestimated.

"I expect everyone to report for training if they're fit and able.

"It will give me an opportunity to look at players and give others a chance to sample the unique atmosphere of the Millennium Stadium because certainly down the line, we'll lose players through injury and suspension.

"That always happpens so I need players that do come in have experience of football at this level."

Hughes also gave his full backing to Manchester United ace Ryan Giggs as the Welsh winger battles to silence the Old Trafford boo boys.

Hughes admits he took the time to ring Giggs to reassure the jewel of his Wales squad of his worth after he was booed by some fans during the Worthington Cup semi-final first leg clash with Blackburn.

And Hughes added: "I've had the chance to talk to Ryan and he was OK.

"He accepts the fact that there was a period where he wasn't hitting the high standards people expect of him. He also understands it happens to footballers.

"But at the weekend against West Ham he showed he was coming back to something like his best form and that's good news for his club and great news for us.

"People highlighted his form only because of the standards he maintained for such a long period.

"It was a dip, it hadn't happened much before and when it did come about, people commented on it."

If Giggs figures in the next Wales game - in the middle of a tough period for United with the FA Cup fifth round tie against Arsenal and a Champions League clash with Juventus just around the corner - he will win his 40th Wales cap.

Forgotten stars Matthew Jones and John Oster also win recalls to the Wales squad for the Millennium Stadium clash.

Leicester midfielder Jones, the ex-Welsh under-21 skipper, has been out of action for almost a year after cruciate knee damage, but he recently returned to the first-team at the Walkers' Bowl.

Oster also had a knee problem and was out of favour at Sunderland until a loan spell with his former club Grimsby Town.

Wales squad to face Bosnia on February 12 (7.45pm): P Jones (Southampton), M Crossley (Middlesbrough), D Ward (Nottm Forest), D Coyne (Grimsby), A Melville (Fulham), K Symons (C Palace), R Page (Sheff Utd), M Delaney (A Villa), D Barnard (Grimsby), D Gabbidon , R Weston (both Cardiff), G Speed (Newcastle), M Pembridge (Everton), R Savage (Birmingham), S Davies (Tottenham), M Jones (Leicester), C Robinson (Portsmouth), A Johnson, J Koumas (both WBA), P Trollope (Northampton), J Oster (Sunderland), P Evans (Bradford), R Giggs (Man Utd), J Hartson (Celtic), N Blake (Wolves), C Bellamy (Newcastle), G Taylor (Burnley), R Earnshaw (Cardiff).