PERFORMANCE is a key word in Wales coach Steve Hansen's vocabulary and never will that be more relevant than tonight.

Wales will be expected to trounce Romania at the Racecourse in Wrexham in the first and, by far, the easiest of the four November internationals.

That means performance really will be far more important than the result given that the Eastern Europeans are expected to be little more than cannon fodder.

They are a rugby nation in crisis, professionalism, if anything, making their decline steeper as the gap grows.

Wales hammered them 81-9 at the Millennium Stadium two years ago, a record home score.

England went one better when they annihilated the Romanians by a world record margin of 134-0 at Twickenham last November.

And this season, Saracens have put 150 points on leading club side Steau Bucharest in the Parker Pen Cup.

But Romania are taking steps to redress the situation, recently appointing a new French coach in an attempt to at least become more organised and they have obtained the release of some of their French-based players.

The last time the sides met at Wrexham in 1997, Wales won 70-21.

So, in view of the statistics, it really will be not so much about the scoreline but the way Hansen's men play.

It will be a big night for debut -making Pontypridd pair Sonny Parker, at centre, and loose-head prop Gethin Jenkins.

Parker, a New Zealander now qualified for Wales on residence, can provide some spark at outside centre while Jenkins is one of a breed of new young forwards.

Much the same can be said about teammate Michael Owen, a tall, rangy back row forward who can also seize the opportunity to make a real impression.

It's the start of a long haul leading to the World Cup in Australia next autumn with Wales set to play an incredible 21 internationals as a minimum so it is vital, therefore, to have as large a pool of players as possible.

That would account for the rather odd selection of Neil Jenkins for his 87th cap, really to see whether he is still up to it at this level.

The games against Fiji and Canada would have been a better way of proving that, though, and it seems an ideal opportunity has been missed to blood another youngster in Ceri Sweeney, again from Pontypridd.

Likewise, the decision to recall Gareth Thomas at the expense of Craig Morgan seems baffling.

But the first three games against Romania, Fiji and Canada will be all about experimenting before the big one against the All Blacks on November 23.

The second row does look a bit lightweight with New Zealand in mind, experienced Steve Williams, formerly a number eight, continuing his revival alongside comparative newcomer Robert Sidoli.

Elsewhere, the captaincy of Colin Charvis will be significant right through the Autumn internationals alongside his big rival Scott Quinnell.

The Llanelli number eight continues to be nursed through by club and country after knee and nasal problems.

Whether he can make it right through to the World Cup remains to be seen. Rivals are not exactly thick on the ground here or in other positions.

Improving squad strength is one of Hansen's goals, but the major one tonight will be all about that Welsh performance.

Wales: R Williams (Cardiff); M Jones (Llanelli), T Shanklin (Saracens), S Parker (Pontypridd), G Thomas (Bridgend); N Jenkins (Pontypridd), D Peel (Llanelli); G Jenkins (Pontypridd), M Davies (Pontypridd), M Madden (Llanelli), R Sidoli (Pontypridd), S Williams (Northampton), M Owen (Pontypridd), C Charvis (Swansea, capt), S Quinnell (Llanelli). Replacements: R McBryde (Llanelli) or A Lewis (Cardiff), B Evans (Swansea), G Llewellyn (Neath), G Thomas (Bath), R Powell (Cardiff), S Jones (Llanelli), C Morgan (Cardiff).

Romania: D Dumbrava (Steaua Bucharest); V Ghioc (Dinamo Bucharest), G Brezoianu (Begles Bordeaux), R Gontineac (Aurillac, capt), M Picoiu (Lavelanet); I Tofan (RCF Metro), P Mitu (Grenoble); P Toderasc (Farul Constanta), R Mavrodin (Tarbes), S Florea (Chambery), S Socol (Brive), C Petre (RCF Metro), F Corodeanu (Grenoble), O Tonita (Biarritz), A Petrache (Toulon). Replacements: D Dima (Toulouse), M Constantin (Petrosani), M Socaciu (Rovigo), G Chiriac (Farul Constanta), C Podea (U Cluj), R Lungu (Perigueux), M Coltuneac (U Cluj).