EXPECTATIONS have shot through the roof since Wales won the Grand Slam and hopes are high they will gain at least one scalp against the three southern hemisphere superpowers this month.

World champions South Africa are first up on Saturday, then comes the Canada game followed by New Zealand on the 22nd and Australia a week later, all at the Millennium Stadium.

Martyn Williams, who made the shortest international retirement on record until Warren Gatland persuaded him back, is well aware of the current levels of anticipation among the public after the success they enjoyed last season.

They did lose twice against the Springboks in the summer, but that was in South Africa with an under-strength side whereas now they are back on home turf in front of their own fans, even if a few players are still missing through injury - Mike Phillips, Mark Jones and Jonathan Thomas.

“Last year going into the Six Nations there were no expectations especially after being knocked out of the World Cup, people are looking now not just for us to compete but to go up a notch and take a big scalp,” admitted 33-year-old Williams, who wins his 82nd cap on Saturday.

“We have got to try to beat one of the three big southern hemisphere teams now so that we can take the next step. There’s going to be a great atmosphere and everyone is really excited about it, this will be a proper measure of where northern hemisphere rugby is.

“But we’ve still got that fear of failure which is what keeps us going because we know it’s going to be tough. They have got so many big ball carriers who are difficult to stop.

“They haven’t got a bad back row, they’re pretty quick and physical, and then there is the work they get through in the front five. Wherever they play South Africa always present a big physical challenge, the biggest you’ll ever face, so it’s up to us to be smart and not give them too much ball.”

Williams gives a ringing endorsement to new caps Leigh Halfpenny and Andy Powell, both team-mates at the Cardiff Blues.

“In some ways it’s not so tough for them because they don’t realise how big a thing it is. Leigh has also had an Under-20s World Cup to help him as well and the scrutiny goes up a notch every year,” he said.

“Andy has already shown that he’s been on fire for us, he’s been covering Rushy (Blues No 8 Xavier Rush) which is testament to how well he’s played.

“He’s gone up a level and this is the best I’ve ever seen him play, he’s definitely ready. He’s had some really bad injuries and didn’t get a run of games, but he’s had that this year, he’s been waiting a long time for this.”

Williams admits Wales and South Africa know a lot about one another, meeting for the fourth time in a year on Saturday: “We’re familiar with them and we want to go out and prove we’re better than we showed in the first Test there in the summer (Wales were beaten 43-17). I didn’t go because of my knee, but that first Test is brought up often by the boys, though we managed to turn it around for the second Test.”

Williams is enjoying a new lease of life under Gatland and enjoys the new facilities at their Vale of Glamorgan headquarters: “With the new gym it’s gone up another level, it’s given me my second wind and I just want to be part of it. I’ll stay as long as I can, it’s a great place to be around.”