HISTORY makers -- that's what Wales captain Gareth Thomas is looking for from his squad as they begin their bold bid for back-to-back Grand Slams for the first time for almost 30 years.

Wales open with a daunting trip to bogy ground Twickenham, where they haven't won since 1988, to face an England team growing in confidence again after a successful Autumn series.

But neither that nor an alarming injury list which has reached epidemic proportions with back five forward Jonathan Thomas the latest victim - out for at least the first two games with a hamstring problem - bothers the captain.

The effervescent Wales captain confidently addressed the UK media at yesterday's Six Nations launch in London. "We're very much a team and we don't read anything into what's happened in the past," he said.

"We know it's a tough place to go, but two years ago when we lost we were contenders for a big part of the game.

"If we want to progress as a team we need to go there and rewrite our own bit of history and take the champions tag to places like Twickenham.

"Any other team with the amount of injuries and suspensions we've had would be a weakened team, but it's great for us because we and I as captain support whoever is in the squad, if he's in there he's in by right.

"It's the first time we've gone in as Grand Slam champions in my time, but the sign of a great team is defending it. The second year is the most difficult, we're in unknown waters and we're very wary of where we're going.

"But we need to forget what we've done and get the hunger back. We don't need to change our style, we're confident with it and enjoy being together."

Thomas has been put on the bench for Toulouse against Pau this weekend at the request of the Wales management to rest his knee injury, which has delighted coach Mike Ruddock.

Thomas admits he couldn't play an international with as much strapping on as he did for Toulouse against Llanelli Scarlets last weekend and is keen to get some game time.

"Gareth's going back to France today and we requested Toulouse that he doesn't play this weekend though we respect he's contracted to them. They're going to try to limit his game time and pick him off the bench," said Ruddock.

"It was only near the end against Llanelli that he felt a twinge, he's had intensive treatment this week and I hope he'll be 100% for the England game."

England coach Andy Robinson will hold his breath this weekend, however, after losing the battle with Premier Rugby to get players released.

That means matches like Leicester against Sale and Bath against Wasps, two full-blooded encounters, will go ahead with the full complement of England players involved.

"I've made my feelings known, I wanted to give the players every opportunity but it hasn't happened and I hven't changed my mind," said Robinson.

"So we've had to adapt but I still believe the preparations will be right next week.

"The players are caught in the middle and they need to sort the structure out. We want to give players the opportunity to be the best and that's about preparation."

England captain Martin Corry said, "We're not in a position to make excuses, this is what we've got. Leicester have got a massive game against Sale, and as soon as that is over we'll focus on England against Wales."

Robinson warned Wales, "The important thing for us is to beat them and start the momentum going. It's a huge game for us and we want to build this up."