SHAUN Edwards knows that it will mean nothing in the long term if Wales overcome Ireland in Cardiff today but believes a success will mean everything to their World Cup hopefuls, writes Chris Kirwan.

After two months of being put through their paces in gruelling training camps in Switzerland and Qatar, Warren Gatland's team finally get out on the field this afternoon (kick-off 2.30pm).

Wales hand debuts to four players – wing Eli Walker, centre Tyler Morgan, lock Dominic Day and back row Ross Moriarty – while full-back Hallam Amos wins his second cap and hooker Kristian Dacey and fly-half/full-back Gareth Anscombe should make their international bows from the bench.

With a first cut of the 47-strong squad taking place after next week's camp in Colwyn Bay, Edwards knows that there is plenty at stake.

He said: "We are all competitive people and any game of rugby that you go into you desperately want to win, particularly in front of your own fans.

"No-one kind of remembers who wins friendlies in six to eight months' time, but in the here and now it is very important for us because people are playing for spots and you want to get the momentum going into a Rugby World Cup.

"It is almost like we are going into the unknown a little bit because we have got a lot of players who haven't played together before, and a lot of players we've seen play before but who are playing with players they haven't played with before."

The new Wales players and even those who have been on the fringes will be desperate to impress but Edwards says they must not force things against the Six Nations champions.

"It's the first game of the season, and sometimes you have to tape back some of the enthusiasm, whether you are a 100-Test veteran or coming in for your first cap," he said.

"You are not going to be massively in the groove as if you were six to eight games into a competition. It is important not to overplay."