JAMES Hook is ready for an appointment with the "intimidating’’ All Blacks next Saturday when Wales make their latest attempt to end more than half a century of hurt.

It is 56 years since Wales last toppled New Zealand, a run of 20 successive defeats that has included some fearful hammerings.

Injuries to Lions Test trio Lee Byrne, Mike Phillips and Adam Jones will compound Wales' degree of difficulty this time around.

But Hook, who replaces Byrne and makes just his second start at full-back during a 34-cap international career, is relishing being in the firing line.

"For years and years they have been up there as the best team in the world, more or less,’’ said the Ospreys star.

"That is probably why they are so intimidating.

"As a player though, you enjoy it. You want to get out there and challenge yourself against world-class opposition.

"It's a massive incentive for us to beat New Zealand, having not done it since 1953.

"Last season, we ran them close, and people are saying we've got a good chance of beating them this year because they have got injuries and suspensions, but they are still a formidable outfit.

"They are the type of team that lets other teams make mistakes - then they pounce. We are aware of that.’’ Hook, unable to budge Stephen Jones or Jamie Roberts - the players occupying his favoured fly-half and inside centre positions - is happy just to be in coach Warren Gatland's Wales team.

"I know 15 is not my regular position, but I am just happy to be playing. I am excited about it,’’ he added.

"It's obviously a different role from 10 or 12, but in the modern game you find yourself at 10 back a lot taking high balls, just as a full-back would.

"I spoke with Lee last week, and I have been watching his games over the past season for Wales - it's a big help.’’ Gatland has made seven changes from the side that ended last season's RBS 6 Nations Championship campaign by losing a title decider against Ireland in Cardiff.

It would probably have been six had Scarlets wing Mark Jones not suffered a knee injury during Wales training over the weekend that will sideline him for the entire autumn series and probably require keyhole surgery.

Leigh Halfpenny starts a second successive autumn schedule in the number 14 shirt, with his Cardiff Blues colleague Gareth Cooper replacing scrum-half Phillips and Paul James taking over from his fellow Ospreys prop Adam Jones.

It will be James' second Test start, six years after his first - a 54-8 stroll against Romania in Wrexham.

Gatland could have moved Gethin Jenkins across the scrum from loosehead to tighthead, but he has backed 27-year-old James to play his part opposite a New Zealand front-row shorn of the suspended Tony Woodcock.

"We've been quite happy with the way he has scrummaged at tighthead,’’ said Gatland.

"We discussed the possibility of moving Gethin, but we feel he is one of the best looseheads in world rugby and we wanted to keep him in that position.

"Scrummaging is an important aspect of the game. If our scrum doesn't function, we are really going to struggle, so we will put a lot of emphasis on that. We need a platform to work off.’’ New Zealand, beaten three times during this year's Tri-Nations, are also without banned wing Sitiveni Sivivatu, while fly-half superstar Dan Carter is currently nursing a calf muscle injury that could threaten his participation next weekend.

But New Zealander Gatland added: "They are still incredibly well respected, they traditionally play the best rugby. More often than any other team, they are ranked the best in the world.

"During the next 12 months we play the All Blacks four times, we've got two games against South Africa and two against Australia.

"We are not running away. We want to play against the best teams in the world.

"Yes, it's been since 1953 since Wales have beaten the All Blacks, and I definitely think in the past there was that aura of the All Blacks.

"But if you go out there and you don't believe you have got a chance, then you might as well pack up and go home now. It is part of my job to instil that belief.

"I am well aware of the history in this fixture - I got brought up on the traditions of the All Blacks playing the Welsh.’’ Team; J Hook (Ospreys); L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), G Cooper (Cardiff Blues); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Rees (Scarlets), P James (Ospreys), A-W Jones (Ospreys), L Charteris (Newport-Gwent Dragons), A Powell (Cardiff Blues), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys, captain).

Replacements: H Bennett (Ospreys), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), M Roberts (Scarlets), J Davies (Scarlets), T James (Cardiff Blues).