DAN Lydiate accepts there will be a degree of “edginess and tension” around the Wales camp this week as World Cup squad selection draws closer.

Wales face world champions South Africa in their final tournament warm-up game on Saturday, before head coach Warren Gatland announces his final 33-strong group for France two days later.

At 35, flanker Lydiate - returning to Rodney Parade next season from the Ospreys - hopes to be part of a third World Cup 12 years after his first one.

And he is also aware that injuries can strike a player at any time, with the current warm-up schedule having ended World Cup hopes of England scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet and France fly-half Romain Ntamack.

“You probably take nothing for granted,” he said. “You are only one injury away from not being involved or being out for a long time, as I know.

“It’s getting to the business end of pre-season now. There is a big game on the weekend for us, and then (World Cup) selection soon after that.

“There is going to be a lot of edginess and tension around camp at the minute, but if there wasn’t then you probably shouldn’t be here because that is the main goal, to go to a World Cup.

“And once you are in the World Cup, the goal is to win the next game and then the next game.”

Lydiate - who was named Six Nations player of the year in 2012 - has endured serious injury setbacks during his career, but he has bounced back each time and once again finds himself in Wales’ hugely competitive back-row selection mix.

“I guess if it (World Cup selection) is meant to be, it will be,” he added.

“If not, then it won’t have been through a lack of effort or trying. I will know either way that I have given 100 per cent.

“I know it is not going to last forever. When I do finish playing, then at least I know I have given 100 per cent and had no regrets.

“When my time is done, then at least I can ride off knowing that I left no stone unturned and gave the best version of me.”

And with the Springboks looming, Wales will look to recover quickly from a 19-17 defeat against England at Twickenham when they blew an eight-point lead and could not capitalise on their opponents’ poor discipline that saw them at one stage have three players off the pitch.

“It was a quiet bus home,” Lydiate said. “You go up to Twickenham – it is a hard place to win at the best of times – and it felt like we could have got a big result and we let it slip away.

“Coming into training this morning, it felt a bit doom and gloom, and we’ve had some honest reviews. There is a lot of learning there.

“But there is no-one more critical of the players than themselves. You look to yourself first. You almost don’t need to be told if you’ve messed up something because you know straightaway.”