A FEW weeks ago Andy Marinos was simply trying to adjust to a slight change of position from inside to outside centre at Newport.

Then out of the blue came a call-up for the Wales A team against Argentina when he had been out of the international limelight.

He went one step further against Tonga when he was named as captain of the Wales A team.

Now he has gone up the ladder again and is one of the replacements for Wales against world champions Australia tomorrow, just an injury or a tactical change away from a first cap for his adopted country.

"It's been a roller-coaster ride," admitted Marinos. "I hadn't been setting the world alight, I'd had to readjust my game a bit and it had taken a while to settle into 13. "Coming into the games against Leinster I didn't know if I'd be involved in the Welsh set-up at all. "From a Newport perspective with the style we play it doesn't matter whether I'm 12 or 13, I'm happy to play where needed. "But I was chuffed to be in the Welsh set-up and I was happy with my game against Argentina. "To be made captain was fantastic, it took me off my guard, but it was a great honour. "I was delighted with my call-up for the senior side, the icing on the cake. As I've said from the start it's what I came for."

Marinos, of course, arrived from South Africa over two years ago, qualifying for Wales through his grandparents from Bangor.

"I'm sensitive about the situation," he admitted. "But this is my third season here and I'm committed to Wales.

"I feel as much pride and passion as anyone else and to captain Wales A was one of the proudest moments I've had.

"I'm as Welsh as I can be and I hope to keep people happy by going out and performing." Marinos has played in Australia when he had a stint in rugby league with the Sydney Bulldogs from 1995-97.

And he played first Super 10 and then Super 12 rugby against top Australian teams for Natal Sharks and Western Stormers.

"Their players are not unknown to me, I've played against them before and I'm comfortable with that," he said.

"Like every country they're in a bit of a transition at the moment. It's the end of a long, hard slog for them, but they're a quality outfit and they can play a bit. "The England match was all about on the day and France were buzzing against them and wanted it more.

"Even though Australia are favourites against us, we've got to take the bull by the horns and believe in ourselves.

"The doubts are there with the public, but we've got to concentrate on our own performance and the result will take care of itself. You've got to back yourselves."

Now Marinos hopes he gets the chance to go and and win a cap. "They don't come much bigger than this," he said. "I would relish the opportunity."