Autumn internationals - Wales v Australia
Venue: Millennium Stadium Date: Saturday, 28 November Kick-off: 1715 GMT
Coverage: Exclusively 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

Dwayne Peel is determined to take his Wales second chance after Warren Gatland picked him ahead of Gareth Cooper to start against Australia.

The Sale Sharks scrum-half has been behind Cardiff Blues man Cooper in the number nine pecking order since Peel moved to England in the summer of 2008.

But the 28-year-old will face the Wallabies in Cardiff on Saturday.

"I take every game as it comes, but I've been given my opportunity and it's up to me to take it," said Peel.

Cooper, seemingly next behind Lions star Mike Phillips in Gatland's scrum-half plans, started the autumn Tests against both New Zealand and Argentina as Phillips is out injured.

But Peel has been given Gatland's backing to face the Aussies as he will start his first Wales Test against a major international nation for 18 months.

"I'm obviously delighted to be playing this week, it's a great game to be involved in," Peel told BBC Sport.

"I'm just looking forward to getting stuck in.

Peel did start against Samoa earlier this month - a game Wales narrowly won 17-13 - but since moving to the Guinness Premiership, he has struggled to secure a regular place in Gatland's starting XV.

As Peel plays outside of Wales, he has suffered availability issues for games outside the International Rugby Board window.

Peel has been the victim of a club versus country battle as Sale have no obligation to release Peel for Wales duty outside that IRB window.

And the 2005 British and Irish Lions tourist - who was initially overlooked for Wales' 2009 Six Nations squad before a late call - is the only non-Welsh based player in Wales' autumn internationals squad.

Peel has started against the United States and Samoa recently but has not been handed the starting jersey against a major force since Wales' 47-8 Six Nations win over Italy in February 2008.

Peel, though, will start at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday - with Cooper released from the squad to play in the Blues' 31-3 defeat to Australia on Tuesday - while Scarlets rookie Martin Roberts will be his understudy on the bench.

"I'm happy to get my selection and I'll do my best," said Peel. "I'm really enjoying my rugby this year, I'm playing as well as I have done for a while."

Wales legend Gareth Edwards has backed Peel's selection and also believes the former Scarlet is returning to his best form.

Edwards, 62, starred for the Lions on winning tours to New Zealand in 1971 and South Africa 1974 and won 53 consecutive Wales caps during a career that earned him the 2003 plaudit of the world's greatest all-time player.

Dwayne seems to be getting back to the kind of form that made him Wales's number one scrum-half for such a long time Wales legend Gareth Edwards

"Dwayne seems to be getting back to the kind of form that made him Wales's number one scrum-half for such a long time," Edwards told BBC Sport.

"I think they're fairly similar but I think Dwayne possibly gives us more of a threat as a breaking scrum-half."

Edwards added Peel has "also got a very, very quick pass" while believing Cooper has not produced his best form during the autumn Test series.

He said: "Gareth hasn't quite seemed to have hit the kind of form we know he's capable of in the last few weeks."

"At the same time I'm sure that Gareth will be disappointed that he's not included in the Welsh squad for the final Test match against Australia.

"But, of course, it does give Dwayne Peel an opportunity to start - something which he's fought hard to get back to and be recognised as Wales's number one scrum-half again, having been very much the first choice for so many years."

Peel's inclusion is the only change to the starting line-up that beat Argentina on Saturday.

Centre Jonathan Davies retains his place in Wales's midfield as the Scarlets rookie is chosen ahead of fit-again Tom Shanklin.

Wales team to face Australia on Saturday: James Hook; Leigh Halfpenny; Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies; Shane Williams; Stephen Jones, Dwayne Peel; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Paul James, Alun-Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris, Andy Powell, Martyn Williams, Ryan Jones (capt).
Replacements: Huw Bennett, Duncan Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Dan Lydiate, Martin Roberts, Andrew Bishop, Tom James.

Australia: To be announced on Thursday, 26 November.

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