WALES wing Wayne Proctor aims to turn the misfortune of others to his benefit against world champions Australia at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday.

The Llanelli flier was as shocked as anyone by his recall from three- and-a-half years in the wilderness to play under Graham Henry for the first time.

The Wales coach decided to overlook Rhys Williams, a try-scoring replacement against Tonga, and Pontypridd's A team wing Gareth Wyatt for the big clash, instead plumping for Proctor's experience.

And Proctor said: "I know I'm in because of the misfortune of others. It's been well recorded how many wings are out.

"But if that's opened the door for me to come back, so be it. It's up to me now to show I'm good enough to do the job.

"There were a lot of times I missed out on caps when I was playing well, because of injury.

"One man's loss is another man's gain and the situation has benefited me this time." He added: "It's a bit ironic to be recalled nine years to the actual week I had my first cap. "One thing when you've been so long out of it is you don't take anything for granted and you don't look too far ahead.

"I'm just going to have a crack at it, and what better side to have a crack against. "In many ways, it will be like winning my first cap again and I'm sure I'll feel pretty nervous."

Proctor wins his 39th cap, but having played under previous coaches he has been overlooked by Henry until now.

"I've heard people say I'm too old," he said. "Well I might look old to some, but I'm only 29 with a few good years in me yet.

"I still think I'm playing well enough to be considered in my own right whatever the availability of others, but that's for other people to decide."

With Henry requiring a massive defence against Australia, Proctor's tackling and ball-chasing ability has been preferred to perhaps the better pace of others with fewer defensive qualities.

But he revealed he thought it was a wind-up by Llanelli clubmate Stephen Jones when he first heard of his recall.

"When I had a phone call from the squad manager I was convinced it was a wind-up by Stephen," he said.

"He likes a practical joke and I thought it was him trying out a new impression. "It was a good job I was polite because it turned out to be genuine and naturally I was delighted."