Wales captain Scott Quinnell knows exactly what to expect when Italy run out at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Saturday afternoon - and it is not going to be pretty.

Any hopes for the redemption of Welsh rugby could stand or fall in the clash between two countries without a win between them in the Lloyds TSB Six Nations this season.

Italy are without a victory in the championship since announcing their arrival with a shock win over Scotland in 2000, while Wales have prevailed in all seven previous international clashes between the two teams.

Wales, starved of recent success, expect nothing less than victory but Italy are always combative and aggressive even if prone to conceding costly penalties.

"They come to try and intimidate you and I cannot see anything else this weekend," said Quinnell.

"Italy are one of the most physically strong teams to play against. They are very passionate and are a tough side.

"We have won the games against them but they have been very physical and brutal contests," he said.

Quinnell knows the danger - that if Wales go out and get drawn into a bloody battle, they risk losing their focus.

"We have to concentrate on our own performance," he said. "That includes discipline and decision-making and we have worked hard on those things over the last couple of weeks."

Steve Hansen, appointed coach until the end of the current Six Nations following the departure of fellow New Zealander Graham Henry, has stood by his players and resisted the temptation to wield the axe.

Now is the time to repay the debt of loyalty. If the unthinkable happens, the relationship between players and coach - not to mention between coach and the Welsh rugby union - could be short-lived.

Hansen has hauled some of his underachieving players out of the last chance saloon and, according to Quinnell, they are grateful, an opinion borne out by the improved performance as Wales took France right down to the wire a fortnight ago.

"The France game got away from us and we cannot dwell on the past," said the captain, highlighting a trait which has proved a big burden for the national side to carry in the past.

"After the Irish game there were a lot of calls for change. There wasn't that much and there was a better performance.

"We need to work hard as a squad and consistency of selection is good for the side.

"It gives continuation and gives us time to work on the things we need to do to improve," he said.

He now insists that far from generating problems, recent events have brought the team together.

"Totally. There is a great feeling within the squad. The players and management are all one big squad, training has gone well and we are looking to improve again."

Although Italy have made six changes from the side beaten by Scotland a fortnight ago and are without their massively influential goal-kicking fly-half Diego Dominguez, Quinnell - like Hansen, who describes them as "a mini-France, physical up front with flair in the back if you give them the time and room" - is certainly not underestimating the opposition.

"It will make no difference in the way we approach the game. They have more strength in depth nowadays and can bring good players in," he said.

Hansen, who has made just two changes preferring Iestyn Thomas to Spencer John at loose head prop and replacing the injured Craig Quinnell with Ian Gough in the second row, has instilled in his team that it is not what Italy do that matters.

Wales hold their immediate destiny in their own hands and Quinnell warned: "Italy will be coming to win the game.

"They play their rugby on the edge but we must just look at our own performance and concentrate on that."