WARREN Gatland plans to trim down his Wales squad after pitting two teams against each other at next week's training camp in Colwyn Bay, writes Chris Kirwan.

The head coach has handed a number of opportunities to inexperienced and fringe players in Saturday's warm-up Test against Ireland at the Millennium Stadium.

He has sprinkled some experience in matchday squad while giving a start to once-capped Newport Gwent Dragons full-back Hallam Amos and debuts to his Rodney Parade teammate Tyler Morgan in midfield along with Gloucester back row Ross Moriarty, Bath lock Dom Day and Ospreys wing Eli Walker.

Opportunity knocks but players will get one last chance to catch the eye of Gatland and his management team.

"We want to reduce the squad to a manageable number after north Wales," said the New Zealander, who revealed that there has been fights and niggles in training this week as preparations intensify in Test week.

"We will have a contact session, two teams playing against each other in a controlled environment, then we will probably reduce it to 36 to 38."

Gatland will already have pencilled in most of his 31-man squad for the World Cup but is excited about Saturday's challenge against the Irish.

"There are quite a few players that have been in the squad for a number of years that we know a lot about," he said.

"That's why there's a chance for some of the fringe players, some of the younger players, even some of the more experienced players to show what they have done in the last four to six weeks and go out there and perform at home.

"If you want to impress, there's no better opportunity that in front of 74,000 people at home with the roof closed. I am trying to give these players the best possible chance to go out there and perform."

The Millennium Stadium roof will be closed on Saturday because it will be during the World Cup.

Wales: H Amos, A Cuthbert, T Morgan, S Williams (captain), E Walker, J Hook, M Phillips, N Smith, R Hibbard, A Jarvis, J Ball, D Day, R Moriarty, J Tipuric, D Baker. Replacements: R Evans, K Dacey, S Andrews, J King, T Faletau, L Williams, G Anscombe, M Morgan