Wales scrum-half Gareth Cooper is relishing his unexpected chance against the Wallabies on Saturday © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Gareth Cooper

Teams: Australia | Wales

Wales scrum-half Gareth Cooper will run out at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday knowing that, for now at least, he has claimed the No. 9 jersey as his own. Cooper so nearly missed his opportunity against the Wallabies due to the Test falling outside of the IRB Test window, meaning that he and Sale Sharks scrum-half Dwayne Peel were expected for club duty this weekend.

Gloucester sanctioned Cooper's release following behind-the-scenes work by Welsh Rugby Union group chief executive Roger Lewis, Rugby Football Union chairman Martyn Thomas and Gloucester boss Tom Walkinshaw.

"I was at training with Gloucester on Monday morning, and I had a phone call from (Wales team manager) Alan Phillips saying I was expected back with the international squad," he said. "Dean Ryan (Gloucester head coach) then told me I had been released to play for Wales. As far as I was concerned, I was playing for Gloucester. When I heard the news, it was pretty awesome, to be honest."

In the absence of injured Grand Slam scrum-half Mike Phillips and with Peel out of form, Cooper has finally staked a claim to the jersey after years as a supporting player. Having finished the 2003 World Cup as Wales' number one, Cooper has started just 14 of Wales' subsequent 59 Test matches. A Lions tourist in 2005, Cooper has nevertheless found his input into Wales' recent Grand Slams limited to three substitute appearances in 2005.

"It has been great to get the number nine shirt back and have a run of games," he said. "I've felt I have improved with each game I have played. I really enjoyed the summer tour to South Africa, gaining a lot of confidence from the first Test and then having a good second Test. That has been the springboard, really, to improve my performances for Gloucester and Wales.

"It's great to have competition for places, whether it's for the international side or your club side. You need to be forced to play well each week, and that extra pressure on you drives you to perform well."

Cooper's recent resurgence can be put down in part to his coaches, Bryan Redpath at Gloucester and Rob Howley with Wales. "It has helped a great deal having a former scrum-half like Bryan Redpath, who was a great player, to give me his experiences and help me out," he said. "He understands the role I play, and it has also been great working with Rob Howley with the Wales squad, just learning from him.

"As a player, Rob had a great running game, he was fast, he was a good passer of the ball and a good organiser. He had all the attributes a scrum-half should have. I am just looking to improve my performances. I know if I play well this weekend, there is a good chance I will be involved in the (2009) Six Nations."

Cooper is currently in the final season of his existing Gloucester contract, and given Wales boss Warren Gatland's preference for his players coming from Welsh clubs, speculation is rife that Cooper could be about to move, with Cardiff Blues currently looking like his likely destination.

"I was already at Gloucester when Warren came in as coach, but obviously I read the newspapers and the fact he wanted people playing back in Wales. It did concern me a little bit at the time, but I have been lucky enough to perform well for Gloucester and also play for Wales. I went to Bath first of all, because at that time in my career they had the better academy system for youngsters.

"That was the reason why I went, but I feel the Welsh regions have got the same sort of systems in place now, and are as professional as the English sides."

Whatever his club position come the end of the season, he will want the Wallabies to see his improving talents first hand on Saturday.