RECORD try scoring wing Aled Brew and recalled lock Luke Charteris put their selection for Wales in Saturday’s clash with the Barbarians down to the form of the Dragons in the last two months of the season.

And the pair both say that far from being an end of season jamboree against the Baa-Baas, the game is vital for their attempt to force their way into the squad for the World Cup this autumn.

Brew has been unable to secure a regular starting slot in the Welsh team, his caps numbering just four, while injury has kept Charteris on the sidelines for a year and brought a halt to his run of 22 caps.

Both intend making their mark tomorrow as coach Warren Gatland reaches the business end of his World Cup preparations with just three friendlies to follow in August against England (twice) and Argentina before the tournament gets under way.

“It’s an opportunity I’ve got to take with both hands,” admitted Brew, who broke the Dragons and Magners League try scoring record for a season with 16, ending with a barnstorming run of six in a four-game spell against Treviso, the Ospreys, Edinburgh and Cardiff Blues.

“Four years ago I was close to making the World Cup squad, now I’ve got another opportunity and I’ve got to try to make the most of it tomorrow,” he said.

“I have to keep on playing well and just get my hands on the ball. I’ll try to bring my physicality into the game.

“It’s been great at the Dragons playing with people like Jason Tovey and Wayne Evans. When they and the rest of the team play as well as we did it makes it easier for the wingers. It’s great to have the Dragons boys in the team and it’s a real opportunity for Dan and Toby to show what they can do, they deserve it.”

Charteris has been restricted on the international front by a neck injury in particular which ruled him out of last summer’s tour, the autumn series and the Six Nations, during which time Bradley Davies and Alun Wyn Jones established themselves as Wales’ first choice pairing at lock.

The towering Dragons player is determined to break that partnership now that he’s fully fit again, a number of outstanding performances late on in the season forcing Gatland to bring him back.

There is clearly a vacancy as the third Wales lock, though Gatland is considering using Ryan Jones, as he is against the Baa-Baas, and Jonathan Thomas there.

Charteris doesn’t quite see it that way though. “I want to be in the top two, not third,” he said. “I always give it everything, I’ve been fairly consistent though you do stand out more in a winning team like the Dragons were at the end of the season.

“I’m confident that if I keep my form going I’ve got a chance of going to the World Cup.”