Teenage striker Sam Vokes cannot wait for the opportunity to prove himself alongside the experienced Craig Bellamy on World Cup duty.

The 18-year-old is expected to start alongside Bellamy for the first time in a new Wales strike partnership against Liechtenstein on Saturday at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

And Wolves youngster Vokes sees the potential partnership as his chance to learn from a top Premier League striker, 11 years his senior.

Vokes said: "I suppose it will be a bit like pupil and teacher. To get the chance to play alongside someone with so much experience can only benefit me."

Vokes will play his fifth full international against Liechtenstein after making a significant debut in the last Millennium Stadium match with the late winner against Azerbaijan as a second-half substitute.

He then led the attack for the first time in his full debut against Russia in Moscow four days later, and now is expected to get the chance to form a front-pairing with the 29-year-old West Ham man.

Vokes says: "I have watched Craig on TV lots of times and will relish the chance to play alongside him.

"We were on the pitch together for a brief spell when I was substitute against Holland last season, but this will be the first time I will have had the chance to start a match as his partner."

Bellamy is back in the Wales firing line after almost a year of abdominal, groin and hamstring injuries.

Vokes continued: "I have enjoyed training with him this week, which is a great help for me. It has been good to have him around the place again, and his help is appreciated.

"He has looked sharp and hopefully he can do well for us in these next two games.

"There is a lot of competition now with Craig coming back into the squad. We also have Ched Evans and Freddy Eastwood as well when he is fit. It shows that we need to fight for places.

"Craig is a massively important player for Wales, and his experience is especially important for the younger boys in the squad, like me."

He added: "It is great to have him around us, you learn so much by just watching how a senior player trains and prepares.

"And for me on the pitch, he is ideal to play alongside. I am tall and physical and he has the pace around me.

"That type of combination has worked in the past and given the chance together we can do it."

Vokes is not short of advice with boss John Toshack and coach Dean Saunders having played 115 games between them for Wales.

"I get plenty of help and advice from the manager and our coach," Vokes added.

"Both of them played at the highest level as strikers for Wales and they have bags of experience for me to tap into.

"Their advice, and Craig's, has helped me a lot with ways to play and the runs to make. For me to be learning from those three is invaluable.

"Someone compared me to a young John Hartson, which was quite a tribute.

"He had a big physical presence. I would not like to compare myself to Hartson just yet, but he was a great striker and I loved the way that he played.

"If I can get anywhere near that level I would be more than pleased.

"I watched him a lot when I was growing up as he was playing in the Premier League and I looked up to him.

"This has been a really big six months for me, with my move to Wolves and Wales debut. I have just tried to take things in my stride.

"Since I moved to Wolves I have improved as a player and to come into the senior side here with Wales gives you bags of experience."

Vokes' international career has taken off a little quicker than with his new club where he has spent a lot of time as substitute.

He said: "It was a great experience to lead the line against Russia and although we lost 2-1 we were unlucky to come away without anything.

"But we need to take the confidence from that performance into these next couple of games with Liechtenstein and Germany.

"We need to look at the positives from that performance in Russia.

"They are a top nation and a great footballing side and if we can play again like we did against them in these next two games, we will do well.

"As for my time at Wolves, I have been trying to knuckle down to a higher level of club football.

"I will try to and make an impact if I get a chance."