NEWPORT centre Andy Marinos makes his first start for Wales A against Italy A in Bologna on Saturday night - and has immediately targeted a place on the Welsh tour to Japan this summer.

It will be Marinos' first start in a Wales jersey since his debut nearly 20 months ago against the USA.

He made two brief appearances for Wales A late on in the autumn matches against New Zealand and South Africa.

Now he intends taking advantage of the absence of Adrian Durston with a stomach bug, and he has the added advantage of being in the side alongside Newport partner Jason Jones-Hughes.

"It's been a long wait," said Marinos. "It's a bit of a surprise and now I've got the opportunity I have to take it.

"It'a also a good chance for me to press for a place on the Japan tour. I'd like to start playing regularly at a higher level.

"I've been looking at the videos of the Italians and they've improved a lot. They've got more structure and they play for 80 minutes."

Ironically, Marinos and Jones-Hughes team up together for Wales A straight from their least impressive form of the season for Newport in the shock defeat by Glasgow.

But Marinos pledges that Newport will hit back from that shock setback.

"It was a bad day at the office," he said. "We can't afford to lose home games and we've made it difficult for ourselves.

"Now we've got to go to Swansea and try to get those points back.

"When the world appears to be against you that's the time to hit back." Back row forward Alix Popham retains his place in the Wales A team at blindside flanker, making three Newport players in the side.

Ebbw Vale forwards Iestyn Thomas and Nathan Budgett, regulars in the A team, also keep their places and Vale teammate Deiniol Jones is on the bench.

Wales A: K Morgan (Swansea), M Jones (Llanelli), J Jones-Hughes, A Marinos (Newport), C Morgan (Cardiff), L Jarvis (Pontypridd), H Harris (Bridgend) captain, I Thomas (Ebbw Vale), G Jenkins, B Evans, T Maullin (all Swansea), C Stephens (Bridgend), N Budgett (Ebbw Vale), A Popham (Newport), G Thomas (Bath). Replacements: S Jones, D Jones (Neath), Deiniol Jones (Ebbw Vale), J Ringer (Bridgend), R Powell (Cardiff), C Rees (Neath), A Durston (Bridgend).

Newport pair James Rowles and Gareth Gravell, along with Rhys Williams of Cross Keys, are in the Wales Under 21 team to face Italy Under 21s at Nocoto near Parms on Saturday. While their Newport team-mates Chris Thomas and Llyr Lane, along with Ross Watts of Abertillery, are on the bench.