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Where: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
When: 16.30 (BST)
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Welsh coach Iestyn Harris said his side is well awar of what Italy are capable of as he preapres he men for their first game of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup this afternoon at home.
After watching the Italian side, which is rich in players who are based in the NRL, beat the English 15-14 in a warm-up match, Harris knows it will not be an easier encounter for his side.
“We knew about the quality of the Italians and we knew they would be a formidable task in our first game,” Harris said.
“I think the result they had against England confirmed that.”
“Italy are a very, very good team and they’ve got a lot of experience in there [and] they’ve got a lot of NRL experience in there,” added Harris.
“They are an extremely difficult team to play against and anything outside our best won’t be good enough to win that game.”
The welsh leader said playing on their home soil was gave his players a huge sense of national pride, something they would tap into if they found themselves behind at any stage in the game.
“To have a game at the Millennium Stadium for a Wales rugby league national side is certainly important to us,” Harris said.
“I’m sure the players who take the field will be immensely proud of the fact we’re at the Millennium Stadium.
“If we hit the ground running and get some momentum behind us then all of a sudden the Welsh public will start to get behind us.
“That could kick off the sport [and] ultimately we’ve got that responsibility.”
Italy head coach Carlo Napolitano named his 19 man squad to play Wales at the Millenium Stadium on Saturday
The team will be chosen from:
1. Anthony Minichiello (C)
2. Joshua Mantellato
3. James Tedesco
4. Aiden Guerra
5. Chris Centrone
6. Ben Falcone
7. Ryan Ghietti
8. Anthony Laffranchi
9. Dean Parata
10. Paul Vaughan
11. Mark Minichiello
12. Cameron Ciraldo
13. Joel Riethmuller
Interchange
14. Sam Gardel
15. Ryan Tramonte
16. Brendan Santi
17. Raymond Nasso
18. Tim Maccan
19. Gavin Hiscox
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