WARREN Gatland believes his Wales bench can succeed where their recent predecessors have failed by finishing the job against Australia on Saturday (kick-off 5.20pm).

The head coach is attempting to mastermind a first win against the Wallabies with Wales since 2008, with seven of the 13 straight defeats being by under a score.

Defence guru Shaun Edwards hinted on Tuesday that they will be mindful about who is on the field in the "championship minutes" as the final whistle looms and the selection confirms that.

Gatland makes three changes to the side that started the autumn with victory against Scotland with starts for wing Josh Adams, tighthead Tomas Francis and lock Adam Beard.

Dragons captain Cory Hill has to be content with a place on the bench as cover for the second row after 10 starts on the spin.

He is joined among the replacements by Lions Liam Williams and Dan Biggar, summer co-captain Ellis Jenkins and influential loosehead Rob Evans.

The eight-in-wait is completed by Dragons hooker Elliot Dee, tighthead Dillon Lewis, fresh from a fine display against the Scots, and livewire scrum-half Tomos Williams

"It is definitely one of the strongest benches we have had for a long time, for the impact that can come off there," said Gatland.

"If you look at the three player sin the backs, Tomos Williams, Dan Biggar and Liam Williams, there is some experience there, a couple of Lions. Cory Hill there too and Ellis Jenkins, and the front rowers.

"We were pleased with Dillon Lewis last week, we thought he was outstanding. There is some real competition in that tighthead position, with Leon (Brown of the Dragons) not being involved.

"There was definitely talk about the impact and importance of the bench in this game."

Wales last beat the Aussies 10 years ago when Lee Byrne and Shane Williams scored tries in a 21-18 success in Cardiff.

"It was nice to get that win but to be honest I've been pretty gutted since, being in positions to win and then throwing them away," said Gatland.

"We should have beaten Australia on a few occasions but haven't managed to do it.

"(It's) just being clinical in those last few minutes. We've gone through some of those examples in the last few years when we haven't read a certain pressure situation, where players have occasionally given away stupid penalties, or where we haven't defended smartly."

Gatland has opted to stick with Gareth Anscombe at fly-half rather than calling up Biggar, who was unavailable last week.

"It wasn't about being a close call. We know what a quality player Dan (Biggar) is, we know what his strengths are," said Gatland.

"It was sending a message to Gareth that we didn't want to just pick you for one game and then put you on the bench.

"It is not about creating a press hype about a big decision about leaving Dan Biggar out, it is about us thinking about what is important for the team now and building depth in the squad and thinking about the next eight to 10 months."

Wales: L Halfpenny (Scarlets); G North (Ospreys), J Davies (Scarlets), H Parkes (Scarlets), J Adams (Worcester); G Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), G Davies (Scarlets); N Smith (Ospreys), K Owens (Scarlets), T Francis (Exeter), A Beard (Ospreys), A W Jones (Ospreys, capt), D Lydiate (Ospreys), J Tipuric (Ospreys), R Moriarty (Dragons).

Replacements: E Dee (Dragons), R Evans (Scarlets), D Lewis (Cardiff Blues), C Hill (Dragons), E Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), T Williams (Cardiff Blues), D Biggar (Northampton), L Williams (Saracens).