Stephen Jones has little interest in the hype and history surrounding Wales' latest attempt to beat New Zealand.

From the Wales fly-half's perspective, it is all about one word - winning.

Wales will carry plenty of baggage with them into Saturday's Millennium Stadium showdown, having lost their last 20 Tests against the All Blacks and conceded almost 700 points.

This week's sideshow - the circus that seems to accompany every Cardiff visit by New Zealand - has revolved around Wales coach Warren Gatland's claim the All Blacks might have lost some of their aura of invincibility.

Three defeats against world champions South Africa during this year's Tri-Nations suggests Gatland has a point.

But some sections of the New Zealand media have slammed the Wales camp's "trash-talking" in a trademark response aimed at whipping up a pre-match storm.

Fortunately, the phoney war will soon be over and the stage cleared for a 25th meeting between two countries whose mutual rugby respect runs deep.

Wales last toppled the All Blacks in 1953, barely six months after Queen Elizabeth II's coronation and Sir Edmund Hillary conquered Everest.

And Jones has experienced the pain of defeat more than most at New Zealand's hands, having failed on seven previous occasions to claim world rugby's most prized scalp.

But his desire has not diminished, admitting: "It's exciting, another brilliant occasion at the Millennium Stadium against New Zealand.

"International sport though, is all about winning, and that is the challenge for us.

"It is quite easy to prepare yourself to play against the All Blacks. I've enjoyed all the games I have played in against New Zealand.

"They've always been physical, and New Zealand always try to play with width and tempo. I'm sure it will be the same on Saturday.

"But as a player, you want to be successful and you go into the game with the belief you can win."

Tomorrow's encounter will be the 19th Test for Wales since New Zealander Gatland took charge in late 2007.

He has registered 13 victories, but only one win - against Australia last year - has been at the expense of a southern hemisphere super power.

New Zealand though, are on Gatland's radar four times during the next 12 months, with such regular exposure viewed as critical preparation for Wales' 2011 World Cup campaign.

Jones added: "We've grown as a team, and since Warren has come on board we've experienced a bit of success.

"In the Six Nations last season we didn't achieve what we wanted to, but our performances still went in the right direction.

"From playing well, and the coaches continually raising the bar, that is how you get confidence and belief. You get challenged in this environment."

While both sides are without key players - no Mike Phillips, Lee Byrne or Adam Jones for Wales, while New Zealand cannot call on players like Sitiveni Sivivatu, Tony Woodcock or Keven Mealamu - it promises to be another high-octane clash.

And Wales, unlike on so many previous occasions, at least showed last autumn they could compete with New Zealand, leading 9-6 at half-time before conceding 20 unanswered points.

"In the second half last year we didn't keep hold of the ball, we went away from our game plan and didn't play the same style as we had done in the first half," recalled Jones.

"We had to maintain our tempo in the second half, but we fell away from that in terms of our efficiency.

"When we had opportunities to play, we kicked rather than kept ball in hand, and New Zealand caused us a lot of problems.

"They are very efficient in the contact area, and they have so many good runners in their side. They have such a good mix.

"We have got to make sure we are efficient in the contact area because we need quick ball with all the talented runners we've got, and it is also a case of being well-organised defensively."

Many pundits, including former Wales captain Gwyn Jones, believe this weekend is Wales' time to finally end more than half a century of hurt against New Zealand.

But question marks hang over Gatland's side. How will James Hook cope out of position at full-back? Can scrum-half Gareth Cooper run the show like Phillips might have done? Is tighthead prop Paul James - a Test rookie - good enough to ensure a dominant Welsh scrum?

It just might all add up to ensuring business as usual in the Welsh capital this weekend - another All Blacks win.