LOCK Bradley Davies believes Wales tight five have a responsibility to protect debutant tighthead Rhodri Jones against the strong-scrummaging Pumas this afternoon, writes Chris Kirwan.

Warren Gatland's side look to get their autumn series up and running with victory against a hideously out of form Argentina at the Millennium Stadium.

Today's visitors have won just one game – against Georgia – in their 12 Tests since triumphing in Cardiff in 2012.

But they still possess a fearsome tight five that all ply their trade for European big guns – loosehead Marcos Ayerza at Leicester, hooker Eusabio Guinazu at Bath, tighthead Maximiliano Bustos at Montpellier and locks Manuel Carriza and Patricio Albacete at Racing Metro and Toulouse respectively.

Wales are no mugs in that department but have been hit hard by a calf injury to tighthead Adam Jones that has ruled him out of the autumn series.

Gatland has replaced him with 21-year-old Jones, who is four-choice at the Scarlets behind Samson Lee (who is among the replacements today), Jacobie Adriaanse and Deacon Manu.

"Rhodri has trained well all week and he's going to enjoy it, it's a big stage for him," said Davies. "I think we can look after him as a front-five. Hopefully, we can gee him up.

"The scrum was a big challenge against South Africa and this is the same. Argentina pride themselves on their scrum and it's something we've worked hard on this week.

"The game will be won up front as it is every game. That's their strength. We're trying to negate their strengths and come out on top.

"The scrum, line-out, kick and chase are going to be big things because they are going to kick the ball a lot.

"Whoever gets the better of that is going to win the game. It's not going to be easy."

Davies produced a sterling performance against the Springboks alongside Alun Wyn Jones and it was just as well given the competition for starts in the second row.

He has got the nod former Dragons captain Luke Charteris, current Dragons skipper Andrew Coombs and Lions tourist Ian Evans.

"I was happy with the way I played – I feel I'm back to where I was before (injury last season)," said Davies.

"I just want to keep it going. I'm expecting it to be pretty similar to what we had off South Africa. Argentina are a big, physical team who are going to challenge us at set-pieces."