HALLAM Amos has been taking tips off Leigh Halfpenny as he prepares for a return to full-back in his World Cup audition at the Millennium Stadium.

The 20-year-old will end a near two-year wait for a second cap when he lines up for Wales against Six Nations champions Ireland in Cardiff on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm).

A strong performance would strengthen Amos' claim for a spot in Warren Gatland's 31-strong squad for England 2015 following a superb season with Newport Gwent Dragons.

He topped the Rodney Parade scoring chart with 11 tries and has a magnificent highlights reel after a stunning individual score in the shock win at Stade Francais, an outstanding brace in Newcastle, a length of the field effort at Treviso and a majestic offload against Ulster after dumping South Africa star Ruan Pienaar on his backside with a powerful hand-off.

However, those golden moments came from the left wing and Amos is now preparing for a first start at 15 since the home Guinness Pro12 clash with Glasgow last September.

Such versatility – Amos even played outside centre at age-grade level for the Dragons – is welcome in a fierce battle for squad spots and the bright young talent is lucky enough to have a Toulon superstar to bounce ideas off.

"It's good to be able to play both," he said. "I always used to say 15 was my favourite but this season I have played on the left for the Dragons for most of the season and really enjoyed it – the more

I enjoy playing both and the more game time I get the better.

"Leigh sat me down and asked if I had any questions and that's great. He is not that old himself but is 60 caps down the line and has been there done that. Defensively he is the best in the world so the more I can emulate him the better."

Amos has had to be patient since making his Test bow against Tonga in the autumn of 2013.

He was denied the chance to add to that cap when a shoulder injury ruled him out of the 2014 tour to South Africa and was an unused member of Gatland's international squads last season.

"It's often tough sitting on the sideline and being travelling reserve, watching the boys go out there," he admitted.

"I would have loved to have played earlier but I've been selected this weekend and hopefully I can put in a good performance.

"Mike Phillips has been talking about how even 90 caps down the line he is feeling the heat and the same is true for me and Tyler (Morgan, his uncapped Dragons teammate).

"Everyone wants to do their best and hopefully that translates to a good performance.

"Shaun Edwards spoke earlier this week about how it's not often your first game of your season is possibly your biggest.

"It's a massive opportunity, especially for all us youngsters who haven't played as much. It's sold out, the roof will be closed and it's going to be a great occasion."

At the gruelling training camp in Switzerland Amos received the welcome news that he had passed his exams, meaning that he doesn't have to combine preparations for Ireland with revision for re-sits.

The World Cup is the only thing on his mind and the student would love to delay the start of a planned third-year placement at either the Royal Gwent in Newport, University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff or Prince Charles in Merthyr.

"World Cups are the biggest thing in sport and one at home might not come around again in my career," he said.

"Everyone has got to grab the opportunity as best they can and hopefully it will spur the boys on to putting in that extra one or two per cent."