Both coaches have chosen strong sides for their 6^th tournament opener. While wales have selected a good running back-line, Canada have opted for experience in the likes of Rod Snow, Joh Theil and Mike James.

There are strong connections between the 2 nations, with Snow, Theil, James all previously playing with Welsh sides, as were Jamie Cudmore, Ed Fairhurst and Luke Tait. There's also a link with Cardiff born assistant coach Geraint John, and scrum half Morgan Williams.

Canada have already sent a statement of intent out to the off-colour Welsh, saying they see the Dragons as a team they can look to beat and use to qualify to the knockout stages. Canada have only ever gotten to that stage once before, in 1991, but Suggitt feels now is the time to repeat that feat,

"Reaching the quarter-finals like we did in ‘91, that's always been the benchmark. We keep that at the back of our minds, and we're going after three wins this year, so we'll try to raise that benchmark a little more."

Wales thumped Canada in a test match under a year ago, but the Canucs are confident that there won't be a repeat of that score line,

"This is a different team to the one that lost (64-13 to Wales) last November,"

But while Canada remain upbeat over their chances, BBC pundit, and former Wales and British Lions outside half, Jonathan Davies, isn't as sure,

"I think that Canada talk a good game, but they can't play it. I don't think they are capable of causing an upset and beating Wales. And if they think they can come here and beat us up then that is surely all the motivation our players need."

As for the Welsh side, they've dropped captain Gareth Thomas, a bizarre move by under fire coach Gareth Jenkins, who named Thomas captain just weeks ago after stripping the tile from the injured Steven Jones. But both players find themselves on the Welsh bench, with Dwaine Peel taking the skippers armband.

James Hook remains at 10, as expected, despite the supposed return to fitness of Steven Jones. Meanwhile, there's yet another untried centre partnership, as Sonny Parker is remarkably ‘given his chance' at 12, with Cardiff Blues centre, Tom Shanklin at 13.

Elsewhere it's pretty much as expected, although Jon Thomas gets the nod over the impressive Colin Charvis, and Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins return to the fornt row, along with hooker Matthew Rees.

About his controversial centre selection, coach, Gareth Jenkins said;

"Gareth [Thomas] put in three royal performances for us during August, but this is the first time Sonny Parker has been available to us to start a game so we are giving him a chance in the centre,"

Canada's Squad
Mike Pyke; Dth van der Merwe, Craig Culpan, Dave Spicer, James Pritchard; Ander Monro, Morgan Williams (capt); Rod Snow, Pat Riordan, Jon Thiel, Luke Tait, Mike James, Jamie Cudmore, Dave Biddle, Sean-Michael Stephen.

Aaron Carpenter, Dan Pletch, Mike Pletch, Mike Burak, Colin Yukes, Ed Fairhurst, Ryan Smith.

Wales' Squad
K Morgan; M Jones, T Shanklin, S Parker, S Williams; J Hook, D Peel (capt); G Jenkins, M Rees, A Jones, I Gough, AW Jones, J Thomas, M Williams, A Popham.

T Rhys Thomas, D Jones, M Owen, C Charvis, M Phillips, S Jones, G Thomas.

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