IT’S the last chance saloon for Wales - the final part of coach Warren Gatland’s build-up to the World Cup, and this stage will have to go better than the first two or it’ll be curtains in New Zealand this autumn.

Phase one with the November internationals was a disaster when Wales failed to win any of their four games.

Three may have been against the three southern hemisphere superpowers of South Africa, Australia and New Zealand when it’s always tough to win one of those, but Wales failed to dispatch even Fiji in their other fixture, having to be content with a draw.

Then came phase two with the Six Nations when for the third season in a row Wales had to settle for a mediocre fourth place in the table.

They got off to the worst possible start with defeat at home against England and though three victories followed against Scotland, Italy and Ireland the programme ended as it began, with a defeat, pretty abysmally at that, against France.

Now comes the final opportunity with summer internationals against the Barbarians on Saturday followed in August by two matches against England and one against Argentina.

The first will provide the opportunity to give fringe players a chance to stake a late claim for a seat on the plane to New Zealand.

Gatland reveals his team tomorrow, but one player widely expected to make his return to the international scene after a two-year absence is a certain Gavin Henson.

He may have played only a handful of games since his self imposed exile from the game, but Gatland still believes in him despite a load of off-the-field problems and there’s not much point drafting him back into the squad only to leave him out or put him on the bench in a more carefree type of game against the Baabaas.

Five uncapped players have been included in the squad to freshen it up and to show even at this late stage that players can still make it.

Toby Faletau of the Dragons surely has the best opportunity of that little group after impresssing so many people in the second half of the season with his running, composure, good hands and offloading as well as an uncanny ability to break out of tackles.

Dragons teammate Lloyd Burns epitomises best of all that a rank outsider can come right in from the cold with a chance to make it all the way to the World Cup from nowhere.

Centre Scott Williams and lock Lou Reed of the Scarlets and Ospreys prop Ryan Bevington are the other new boys while there is a change of captain with Sam Warburton handed the job at the ripe old age of 22 in his 15th international.

The Barbarians are not going to be simply ‘throw it around’ merchants, there’s a touch of steel in their ranks as they showed when they grabbed an exciting victory over an admittedly near second string England team.

They came from being 17 points down to win, and with a sprinkling of French players in their ranks, others like Sergio Parisse and Joe van Niekerk based there, plus Welsh veterans like Martyn Williams and Iestyn Thomas they will provide a decent test.

But one thing is for sure – Wales dare not fail.

GRAEME McDowell makes a return to the scene of his greatest deed this week when he competes in the Saab Wales Open at the Celtic Manor.

Winning the US Open last year was obviously the Northern Irishman’s finest hour from an individual viewpoint, but the way he sealed victory for Europe in the Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor back in October was one of sport’s unforgettable mom-ents.

He will have fellow triumphant Ryder Cup players Miguel Angel Jimenez, a former Wales Open winner, Ross Fisher and Peter Hanson with him, as well as winning captain Colin Montgomerie.

Local favourites Bradley Dredge and Phil Price will attempt to become the first Welsh winner of the tournament, Price improving this season and Dredge well in the hunt at the weekend’s dramatic PGA event until the final round.

It all adds up to another Celtic Manor spectacular as Sir Terry Matthew attempts to build on that Ryder Cup stunner.