VETERAN prop Gethin Jenkins will attempt to avoid another Fiji nightmare when he leads out Wales on Saturday afternoon.

The Cardiff Blues loosehead is handed the number 1 jersey for the second autumn Test at the Millennium Stadium (kick-off 2.30pm) and will also captain the side in the absence of the rested Sam Warburton.

The 33-year-old has won 108 caps and has a mixed record against the Fijians – played three, won one, drawn one, lost one.

Jenkins, James Hook, Mike Phillips and Alun Wyn Jones are the only survivors of the side that was dumped out of the 2007 in Nantes.

The prop sat out the 2010 16-16 draw in Cardiff but got his revenge at the 2011 World Cup when Gatland's team hammered Fiji 66-0 in Waikato.

"I can remember drawing with Fiji a few years ago and it was a pretty down dressing room after conceding in the last minute," said Jenkins.

"People my age also remember the 2007 game in France. It's a down point in my career and the same for all the boys that played that day but Saturday is a chance to beat them on our own patch.

"Fiji will always bring an expansive game and try to take us on out wide."

Jenkins gets the nod after coming off the bench against the Wallabies with uncapped in-form Ospreys youngster Nicky Smith backing him up ahead of last week's starter Paul James.

"There's always been a lot of competition in my position," said Jenkins.

"Nicky Smith is coming through and Paul James has been snapping at my heels for a while now and got his chance against Australia. I am determined to make the most of the game against Fiji."

Samson Lee is the solitary member of the front row to earn back-to-back starts and the veteran loosehead is full of praise for the burgeoning tighthead.

"I thought he was outstanding," said Jenkins. "He's getting better and better with every game. "He scrummaged really well and he's working on the things he does around the field as well; the stuff he got through on Saturday was a big step up from him.

"He's carried through some of the form that he showed in the second Test against South Africa."