Wales v Australia preview

Wales face a stern challenge against Australia in a friendly international at the Cardiff City Stadium on Wednesday night.

Watch the match live on Sky Sports HD4

Wales face a stern challenge against Australia in a friendly international at the Cardiff City Stadium on Wednesday night.

Gary Speed's men endured a dismal 2010/11, losing their opening four Euro 2012 qualifiers to extinguish any chance of making it through to next summer's tournament in Poland and Ukraine.

They will be hoping to revive their flagging fortunes this season and build towards a World Cup qualifying campaign, where they have been drawn alongside Croatia, Serbia, Belgium, Scotland and Macedonia.

Speed is looking forward to the match and feels that competing against such strong opponents as Australia can only benefit his side.

"They are a good team, they are on the fringes of the top 20 in the world. They are strong," said Speed, whose team is ranked joint 112th in the Fifa rankings, level with the Faroe Islands.

"They beat Germany recently but these are the teams we want to play against as we feel it will enhance our development.

"Playing sides like Australia will make sure we are ready for when those qualifiers come around."

Team news

Speed will be able to call on Gareth Bale for the first time since taking charge of the Dragons, with the Tottenham winger having missed the last four games due to injury.

Fellow stars such as Craig Bellamy and captain Aaron Ramsey are also set to feature in a strong starting XI, although Speed has been hit by a number of withdrawals.

Sam Vokes, Andrew Crofts and James Collins have all pulled out of the squad to face the Socceroos due to injury.

Wolves striker Vokes and Norwich midfielder Crofts have ankle problems while Aston Villa centre-back Collins is struggling with his back.

Inverness midfielder Owain Tudur Jones has been drafted in as cover for Wales.

Australia are already preparing for the start of their World Cup qualifying campaign, which begins against Thailand next month, and boss Holger Osieck is targeting victory.

The likes of Everton's Tim Cahill and Brett Emerton of Blackburn are set to play in Wales but Osieck is expecting a tough encounter.

He said: "I rate Wales pretty highly. Knowing some of the individual quality. If you look at Aaron Ramsey, Gareth Bale, Craig Bellamy, Robert Earnshaw, they are top-class players and the rest are not bad either.

"We are facing a very strong team."