CAPTAIN Sam Warburton has backed chop-tackling Dan Lydiate to fire against Australia after being left trailing in his fellow flanker's wake during Wales' brutal tune-up for the autumn internationals.

Former Newport Gwent Dragons flanker Lydiate is currently without a club after securing an early release from his contract with Racing Metro.

The 26-year-old was a fringe figure with the Parisians but, despite playing no rugby for a month, is selected for Saturday's autumn opener against the Wallabies.

Wales have had a ferocious training regime in a bid to hit the ground running against the Aussies, who have the advantage of being fresh from the Rugby Championship and Tests against New Zealand and the Barbarians.

Coach Rob Howley revealed that Lydiate has consistently been in the squad's top five in training tests and Warburton, renowned for being one of the fittest players in world rugby, admits to being left behind by his fellow flanker.

The captain said: "I hang my head in shame, Dan has been beating me in all the fitness tests over the past two weeks! That shows he has been working so hard at Racing.

"He is in a very good place at the moment; he is physically strong, is fit, has had a bit of game time under his belt and is performing well in training.

"It will be great to have a firing Dan, which I am sure we will get on Saturday."

The conservative selection of Lydiate ahead of Ospreys livewire Justin Tipuric is not a surprise, despite the blindside having very little game time under his belt.

It also points to Wales attempting to go toe-to-toe with the Aussies before unleashing more mobile and energetic players off the bench in the final quarter, with loosehead Gethin Jenkins also among the replacements after missing out to Paul James.

"Dan needs to go out, empty his tank and work as hard as he can," said Howley.

"Then we have the attacking skill set of Justin Tipuric off the bench; he is a wonderful player and a different type of player."