Autumn internationals - Wales v Australia
Venue: Millennium Stadium Date: Saturday, 28 November Kick-off: 1715 GMT
Coverage: Live on BBC TWO Wales and online, full commentary on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and online, live text commentary online and score updates on BBC Radio 5 Live

Wales captain Ryan Jones injured his back during training

Wales captain Ryan Jones has withdrawn from the side to face Australia on Saturday due to a back injury.

Andy Powell switches from blind-side to number eight, Dan Lydiate will make his first Test start in the six shirt, with Sam Warburton coming onto the bench.

Prop Gethin Jenkins will now lead Wales at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

Scarlets rookie Jonathan Davies retains his place in Wales' midfield ahead of fit-again Tom Shanklin, while Dwayne Peel is recalled at scrum-half.

Ospreys back-row Jones has been in good form during the autumn series and his absence is a blow to Wales' hopes of beating the Wallabies in Cardiff for the second year running.

Wales physio Mark Davies said: "Ryan pulled up in Tuesday's conditioning session with a back problem.

"This obviously needed time to settle and unfortunately the problem has not resolved in time for him to be available on Saturday.

"He has been receiving treatment and was unable to train yesterday, but today [Friday] we have taken the decision that he is simply not going to be ready to take the field."

They will be gunning for us but this Wales squad hasn't feared Australia, has had some success in recent history and enjoys playing them in what are always tough encounters Wales coach Warren Gatland

Lydiate has only played eight minutes of international rugby, the Newport Gwent Dragons player having come off the bench at the end of last week's win over Argentina to win his first cap.

Peel starts ahead of Gareth Cooper to win his 72nd cap in the only other change in the starting XV from Saturday's win over Argentina.

Martin Roberts is Wales' replacement scrum-half, as Cooper was released back to the Cardiff Blues earlier in the week.

Cooper - who was behind Mike Phillips in Wales' scrum-half pecking order before the Lions star was injured - was allowed to play for his region in their match against the touring Aussies on Tuesday.

Open-side flanker Warburton also joined Cooper in the Blues squad for their defeat to the Wallabies at Cardiff City Stadium, but he has now been drafted back into the international set-up.

Centre Davies 21, who played in Wales' 33-16 victory over Argentina, retains his place despite Shanklin recovering from his injury.

The Blues centre, who broke his nose in Wales' 17-13 triumph over Samoa after a 49th minute collision with team-mate Jenkins, was expected to return and win his 66th international cap against the Wallabies.

But Shanklin - who celebrates his 30th birthday this week - received an unwanted present when he was overlooked in coach Warren Gatland's 22-man matchday squad to face the Aussies.

Davies makes up a youthful-looking Wales backline as he, Roberts, Leigh Halfpenny and James Hook are all under the age of 24, with fly-half Stephen Jones, wing Shane Williams and scrum-half Peel provide the experience.

Forward Jonathan Thomas could make his 50th international appearance if he comes off the bench.

"Dwayne comes into the side in a straight swap for Gareth, allowing two Welsh scrum-halves a shot at the Wallabies in the space of a week and ensuring both players have the chance to benefit from the experience," said coach Gatland.

"It was always in our mind to play both scrum-halves for two of the games. We were pleased with the impact that Dwayne made against Samoa.

"That decision is primarily about putting the interests of the player and of Welsh regional rugby first, but elsewhere we are looking for the same again from the bulk of the side who beat the 2007 World Cup semi-finalists.

"There is still improvement left in us and we feel we need to go up a couple more gears if we are to achieve what we want against Australia, but we are coming to the end of the series and the players feel they are starting to get into their stride.

"The level of performance is improving throughout the squad as we spend more and more time together and we hope to get a little nearer the peak of our powers at the weekend."

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Wales have beaten Australia twice, drawn once and lost three times in the last six meetings - but Gatland insists the Welsh enjoy playing the Wallabies.

"They will be gunning for us but this Wales squad hasn't feared Australia, has had some success in recent history and enjoys playing them in what are always tough encounters," said Gatland.

"The Wallabies were incredibly unlucky last weekend and they won't want a repeat of that losing experience in Cardiff.

"They may be coming to the end of a long and gruelling tour, but they won't allow themselves to have one eye on that plane back to the Australian summer, until they have thrown everything at us and emptied the tank at the Millennium Stadium.

"They are one of the top three teams in world rugby and we have no right to expect anything other than the sternest of tests - both physically and mentally - on Saturday, but we feel we are up to it."

Wallaby coach Robbie Deans has made three changes against Wales from the team that started the 9-8 defeat to Scotland last weekend.

Flanker David Pocock replaces of George Smith, Dean Mumm, who captained the team that beat Cardiff Blues on Tuesday, comes in for Mark Chisholm at lock, and Digby Ioane replaces centre Ryan Cross.

Wales: James Hook (Ospreys); Leigh Halfpenny; Jamie Roberts (both Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets); Shane Williams (Ospreys); Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Dwayne Peel (Sale); Gethin Jenkins (capt, Blues), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Paul James, Alun-Wyn Jones (both Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), Dan Lydiate (Dragons), Martyn Williams (Blues), Andy Powell (Blues).
Replacements: Huw Bennett, Duncan Jones, Jonathan Thomas (all Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Blues), Martin Roberts (Scarlets), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), Tom James (Blues).

Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies); Peter Hynes (Queensland Reds), Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds), Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds), Drew Mitchell (NSW Waratahs); Matt Giteau (Brumbies), Will Genia (Queensland Reds); Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs), Stephen Moore (Brumbies), Ben Alexander (Brumbies), James Horwill (Queensland Reds), Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs), Rocky Elsom (capt, Brumbies), David Pocock (Western Force), Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs).
Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs), Matt Dunning (Western Force), Mark Chisholm (Brumbies), George Smith (Brumbies), Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs), James O'Connor (Western Force), Kurtley Beale (NSW Waratahs).

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