Will Shane Williams cause the All Blacks plenty of problems at the Millennium Stadium this weekend? © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Shane Williams

Teams: New Zealand | Wales

A pint-sized phenomenon who emerged practically by accident during Steve Hansen's tenure as Wales rugby coach looms large as the All Blacks plot to keep their Grand Slam bid alive in Cardiff.

Shane Williams has been pinpointed as a definite threat to the All Blacks on Saturday despite the International Rugby Board (IRB) player-of-the-year nominee being muzzled by the Springboks when they visited Millennium Stadium on November 8.

The undersized Williams, shortlisted for the IRB award after scoring 14 tries in 11 tests last season, emerged from left field during the 2003 World Cup when Hansen, who had initially selected him as the squad's third halfback, used the Swansea flyer on the wing when the reserves played New Zealand in a meaningless pool match in Sydney.

Williams responded by jinking his way to a stunning try -- and he has been a fixture for Wales ever since, racking up 43 tries in 58 internationals.

Although Williams was bottled up by the South Africans, claiming he was man-marked by three defenders, he shapes as a potential problem for New Zealand, should the Welsh pack secure enough ball.

"He's probably been the attacking back all year," All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith said. "If you watch the games he played in South Africa (in June), he played well over there and that's the measure, I think. He scored a couple of absolutely brilliant tries."

Smith described the 1.70m lightweight as having similar attributes to a diminutive All Blacks wing of the 1970s.

"He's sort of Grant Batty-ish isn't he? He's got a great step, he's into everything, he's involved in a lot of play, he gets a lot of carries and uses his step in close. He presents a different challenge to say marking a (Lote) Tuqiri."

The task initially falls to Joe Rokocoko, who marks Williams for the first time.

Rokocoko has a proud record to protect because for all of Williams' success since 2003, his try that year against New Zealand has been followed by four barren encounters against the All Blacks, three for Wales and one for the British and Irish Lions.

Williams is one five contenders for the player-of-the-year award alongside 2005 winner Dan Carter. The ceremony is held in London on Sunday.

A very worthy candidate, Williams' career seems to be defined by his impact at the 2003 World Cup. "I suppose playing New Zealand will always be special to me," he said. "Put it this way, five years on and we're still talking about it."

Williams has always been keen to point out "that we actually lost that match 53-37".

Although in his autobiography he admits: "For Wales it wasn't about the result: it was about showing the rugby world that we were back after a couple of years in the doldrums; it was about winning back our self respect and proving we could still play the game.

"That game turned around my whole career."

Earlier in the tournament he had been at his wits end, relegated to the role of "water carrier" at team training, a frustration he also recounted in his book.

"It was one of those situations when you instantly regretted saying something," said Williams, as he explained his four-lettered outburst. "I thought to myself 'Oh my God, I've just told Steve Hansen to f..k off'."

Hansen did not bear a grudge, gave him a chance against the All Blacks and the memories of that experience live on.