Howley: Taking team to Poland again

The Polish trips - facilities at Spala and Gdansk have previously both been used to maximum effect - were crucial building blocks towards last year's World Cup campaign and last season's Six Nations tournament.

Wales enjoyed their best World Cup for 24 years, reaching the semi-finals, while the 2012 Six Nations success featured a third title and Grand Slam in eight seasons.

Spala is the destination on this occasion as Wales interim head coach Howley builds towards an autumn campaign of Millennium Stadium appointments with Argentina, Samoa, New Zealand and Australia.

"Players love the results they get from Spala, but they hate it from minute to minute. It's a unique place," Howley said.

"If we stayed here at The Vale (Wales' regular training venue), we would probably do eight to 10 sessions in a two-week period. Over in Spala, we could fit in 25 to 30.

"It gives us a huge uplift in terms of preparation, and preparation for international rugby is so important.

"There is no holding back in terms of our preparation and the way the players are able to put their bodies to the ultimate test."

The Wales players will again use Spala's cryotherapy chambers, state-of-the-art equipment that speeds up recovery time between training sessions, although Howley's entire 35-man group will not be involved.

France-based contingent James Hook, Luke Charteris, Mike Phillips and Gethin Jenkins have club commitments with Perpignan, Bayonne and Toulon respectively and will not be in camp until the week of the Argentina Test.

"The whole reason we are going to Spala next Saturday is about preparation and hopefully give us that edge, both physically and mentally," added Howley, who is charge of Wales while Warren Gatland concentrates on heading up next summer's British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.

"When players come together, the intensity of training and physicality goes up a couple of levels. We see it from the RaboDirect to the Heineken Cup, and then to international rugby.

"We will take judgements from our training sessions out in Spala. Competition for places is so important.

"No doubt, the players who go to Spala are in the box seat because of the preparation time out there. Momentum is so important for us, and we need a big start against Argentina on November 10."

Ospreys prop Aaron Jarvis is the only uncapped player named in Howley's autumn squad, with six players who did not tour Australia with Wales last summer also included, headlined by powerhouse Cardiff Blues centre Jamie Roberts.

Three players - Newport Gwent Dragons flanker Dan Lydiate (ankle), Exeter prop Craig Mitchell (biceps) and Scarlets prop Rhodri Jones (shoulder) - were not considered because of injury.

Howley said: "We are really pleased with the strength and depth of the squad, with some pleasing individual performances over the last three or four weeks.

"But we all understand and realise the skill, physicality and intensity will go up over the next five weeks.

"We know how important momentum is going into any series, and the bigger picture is the Rugby World Cup draw at the beginning of December.

"How we perform against the Pumas, Samoa, the All Blacks and the Wallabies will have a direct effect on our seeding in that draw.

"We need a successful November to back up our performances at the World Cup in New Zealand and the Six Nations Grand Slam earlier this year, and we are determined to achieve it."