WALES hooker Ken Owens looks to emulate the excellent Richard Hibbard when he makes his first start in his country’s No 2 jersey for nearly 18 months.

Owens has made a big impact since his debut in the 2011 World Cup, winning the Grand Slam and playing his part in the recent Six Nations defence.

But he has had to spend most of his 17 caps so far as an understudy, firstly to Ebbw Vale-born Huw Bennett and latterly for British and Irish Lions star Hibbard, now one of the world’s leading hookers.

Owens gets an opportunity to show what he can do when he takes the field from kick-off for Wales’ clash with Tonga at the Millennium Stadium on Friday night.

The 26-year-old has a great record for Wales as an impact player and scored his maiden Test try, from a driving lineout, after coming on for Hibbard in the 62nd minute of last week’s 40-6 hammering of Argentina in Cardiff.

“It was nice for the forwards to get a try and it was great work by the pack – all I had to do was fall over the line,” the Scarlets man modestly said.

“I struggled to keep up with them at one point, they were going so fast. It meant a lot to me, getting a try for your country.

“But I think it was more pleasing that it was a good forward effort out there and all the hard work we’d put in the week had paid off.”

This is Owens’ first start since Wales went down to an agonising 20-19 defeat away to Australia in Sydney in June 2012, the final encounter of a Test series which his side lost 3-0 despite pushing the Wallabies so close in all three games.

He will take inspiration for the Tonga showdown from Hibbard who is rested this weekend after playing in the defeat to South Africa and the victory over Argentina which followed.

Scarlets teammate Emyr Phillips, capped twice during Wales’ summer tour of Japan, provides back-up from the bench.

“I’m looking forward to starting,” Owens said. “To be fair, Rich has been outstanding the last 18 months or so, so I’ve had to bide my time a little bit, which I’ve been happy to do so because I’ve had a lot of game time off the bench and I’ve contributed to the team that way.

“Getting the start this week will hopefully give me the chance to put my hand up and get a bit more game time.

“Richard gets stuck in and that’s the way he’s always played, whether he is carrying or tackling and it’s good to watch sometimes because it gives you a lift.

“You can just see the players respond to a big hit from him or a big carry. Players do respond to that and it’s something I’ll have to emulate this weekend.”