Rob Howley has paid tribute to the winning mentality of his Wales manager Warren Gatland.

New Zealander Gatland hopes to mastermind a victory over the All Blacks in Cardiff tonight - a feat Wales last achieved in 1953.

Wales' overall record against New Zealand shows just three victories - in 1905, 1935 and 1953 - from 24 attempts, while the All Blacks have scored 722 points and 95 tries.

And those statistics underline just how tough a task Wales face, but the backs coach believes if anyone can plot New Zealand's downfall then Gatland is the man.

"Warren has got core values in terms of hard work and honesty," said Howley.

"He has a huge amount of self-belief that has been conveyed to the players.

"He wants to win, whether it is a game of table tennis, pool, football or rugby.

"It's that self-belief which has been spoken about all week.

"As a Welshman when you play against New Zealand and England, in terms of probably not beating that opposition as often as we would have liked to, it gives you huge incentive and motivation.

"They (New Zealand) have had the better of us over the last so many decades and the boys are looking forward to a great opportunity.

"We are aware the All Blacks have scored 60-odd points in their last two games against a very good Australian side. We know what the All Blacks bring to the table."

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw, meanwhile, expects Dan Carter to be alongside him when the All Blacks run out at the Millennium Stadium.

Carter's involvement has been uncertain all week.

The fly-half superstar, who has scored 92 points in just five Tests at Wales' expense and needs only 16 points to overtake Andrew Mehrtens' all-time New Zealand Test record of 967, suffered a calf muscle haematoma last weekend.

Carter limped off late in the victory over Australia at Tokyo's Olympic Stadium after colliding with Wallabies flanker George Smith.

He has taken part in only light training this week, including at Friday afternoon's final session under the stadium's closed roof, but McCaw has no fears about his Canterbury colleague.

"He's fine," said McCaw. "He has been out there kicking and stuff. He was always going to play as far as I have been concerned.

"He's told me all week he will be good, so we will see him out there."

New Zealand, despite boasting a 20-game unbeaten record against Wales, are taking nothing for granted in the first Test of their five-match European tour which also features appointments with Italy, England, France and the Barbarians.

The All Blacks trailed 9-6 at half-time in last year's fixture before scoring 20 unanswered points, and McCaw anticipates another fierce Welsh approach.

"There is general excitement about the game," he added. "It's a hell of a place to play and we are realise we are in for a big challenge.

"Wales are a good team, a few of the guys have some memories of how tough it was here last year.

"The Welsh traditionally come out with plenty of passion and there is a fair bit of feeling early on. We are going to have to meet that and front-up from the start."

Teams:

Wales: J Hook (Ospreys); L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), G Cooper (Cardiff Blues); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Rees (Scarlets), P James (Ospreys), A-W Jones (Ospreys), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), A Powell (Cardiff Blues), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys, capt).

Replacements: H Bennett (Ospreys), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), M Roberts (Scarlets), J Davies (Scarlets), T James (Cardiff Blues).

New Zealand: M Muliaina (Waikato Chiefs); C Jane, C Smith, M Nonu, Z Guildford (all Wellington Hurricanes); D Carter (Canterbury Crusaders), B Leonard (Waikato Chiefs); W Crockett (Canterbury Crusaders), A Hore, N Tialata (both Wellington Hurricanes), B Thorn (Canterbury Crusaders), J Eaton (Wellington Hurricanes), J Kaino (Auckland Blues), R McCaw (capt), K Read (both Canterbury Crusaders).

Replacements: C Flynn, O Franks (both Canterbury Crusaders), T Donnelly, A Thomson, J Cowan (all Otago Highlanders), S Donald (Waikato Chiefs), B Smith (Otago Highlanders).

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa).

Assistant referees: Mark Lawrence (South Africa) and Stuart Terheege (England).