THERE’S a well-drilled routine at Cardiff Central train station after Wales internationals with fans herded towards their destinations, railings keeping them in order as they queue in the rain.

Bookmakers around the Millennium Stadium may have to adopt a similar approach to avoid a crush if Australia win by a narrow margin in the autumn opener as plenty of punters will be backing history to repeat itself, attempting to ensure that heartbreak at least has the consolation of winning a few quid.

It has been a familiar tale against the Wallabies with six of the nine consecutive defeats being by under a score with the most painful losses being Mike Harris’ late penalty winner in Melbourne in 2012 and Kurtley Beale’s dramatic 80th minute try in Cardiff later that year.

The latter of those defeats proved to be costly – the extra autumn game, held outside of the Test window, meant that Wales slipped down a place in the IRB rankings and have been handed a nightmare draw for next year’s World Cup.

They will go up against hosts England and bogey team Australia at Twickenham, so ending the hoodoo would be handy this afternoon.

The tourists are said to vulnerable because new coach Michael Cheika is just getting his feet under the table and they are still reeling from the Beale text saga and a shock loss to Argentina.

Ignore such nonsense, the Aussies are crafty so-and-sos.

Remember the 2007 World Cup when they headed to the Millennium Stadium for a crunch group clash with apparent half-back problems?

Stephen Larkham was ruled out because of a knee injury – this was Wales’ great chance... but the Wallabies fielded Berrick Barnes, then 21, who had a stormer.

Australia’s team may not be as formidable as the All Blacks’ or Springboks’ but it’s still pretty strong and there will be some great scraps all over the pitch.

Injuries to Jonathan Davies and Scott Williams sees George North move to midfield and he will come up against Tevita Kuridrani, a man who is nearly as destructive as the Northampton winger with ball in hand.

How North copes in defence – and he has been a touch vulnerable against the big three – will be key as there is no doubt he will cause problems in attack.

The back row battle is always fascinating at Test level and Wales will need Dan Lydiate, who has apparently looked good in training but is desperately short of game time after his ill-fated stint with Racing Metro, to hit the ground running.

Next to him Sam Warburton will have a great scrap with Michael Hooper, a small man who packs a punch, while Newport Gwent Dragons’ number eight Taulupe Faletau rarely has an ineffective game.

There are potential matchwinners throughout both XVs but the bench will be key; Test rugby is a 23-man game as Wales coach Rob Howley was quick to stress in midweek.

The hosts have plenty of quality with Mike Phillips, Bradley Davies, Justin Tipuric and Gethin Jenkins but the Wallabies have the magic of Will Genia and bulk of Will Skelton and James Horwill to call upon, not bad options is a rescue act is needed.

It promises to be tight so Wales cannot afford any demons as the clock goes into the 70s.

Warren Gatland and his team need two wins this autumn. They should get one of them this afternoon... but we’ve said that plenty of times over the past six years.

Wales: L Halfpenny, A Cuthbert, G North, J Roberts, L Williams, D Biggar, R Webbs, P James, R Hibbard, S Lee, J Ball, A W Jones, D Lydiate, S Warburton (captain), T Faletau: Replacements: S Baldwin, G Jenkins, R Jones, B Davies, J Tipuric, M Phillips, R Priestland, C Allen.

Australia: I Folau, A Ashley-Cooper, T Kuridrani, C Leali'ifano, J Tomane, B Foley, N Phipps; J Slipper, S Fainga'a, S Kepu, S Carter, R Simmons, S McMahon, M Hooper (captain), B McCalman. Replacements: J Hanson, T Faulkner, B Alexander, J Horwill, W Skelton, M Hodgson, W Genia, R Horne.

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)