DAN Lydiate believes there will be “no better baptism of fire” than the one that awaits an inexperienced Wales pack.

Lydiate, 29, captains a Wales team that sees the Ospreys flanker’s 60-cap Test haul being almost twice the combined figure of his seven fellow forwards.

Dragons tighthead prop Leon Brown, lock Adam Beard and flanker Sam Cross all make their first international starts, while Cardiff Blues second-row forward Seb Davies lines up at number eight for Georgia’s visit.

Brown’s front row colleague Elliot Dee is set for his Test bow from the bench as back-up for Kristian Dacey, who only has five caps.

And with Georgia known uncompromising approach up-front, Lydiate sees it as an ideal examination.

“They (Georgia) will be rubbing their hands together,” said the former Dragons flanker. “But to be fair, our boys will be doing the same. There will be nerves, but there is no better baptism of fire.

“Time just flies, and now we have a load of youngsters coming through. In rugby, there will always be different stages of development, and at the moment I am at the back end of it and new boys are coming in.

“I am excited to be here and captaining such a young bunch. As a pack, if we do well against a big, heavy Georgian eight, it will only stand us in good stead in the future.”

Lydiate, who only returned to action this season after suffering a serious knee injury when Wales beat South Africa 12 months ago, skippers his country for a third time.

And he is relishing the opportunity in Wales’ first meeting with Georgia, just two years before they clash at the 2019 World Cup.

“I only say what I believe in, and if someone needs geeing up, then I will,” added Lydiate, when asked about his captaincy style.

“I will just take it in my stride, really, and I wouldn’t expect anyone to do anything I wouldn’t do. I will chuck myself in front of a bus for the team, so if the rest of the boys are the same, then we will get on great.”

“I am one of the older players in the squad now, and I am seeing all these youngsters coming through. I remember what it’s like to have played your first, second and third Test match.

“There will be a lot of nerves there but it’s about channelling those in the right way and putting in a good performance.”

Wales: L Williams, A Cuthbert, S Williams, O Watkin, H Amos, R Priestland, R Webb, N Smith, K Dacey, L Brown, A Beard, C Hill, D Lydiate (Ospreys, captain), S Cross, S Davies.

Replacements: E Dee, W Jones, T Francis, J Navidi, T Faletau, A Davies, D Biggar, O Williams.

Georgia: S Matiashvili, G Koshadze, D Katcharava, M Sharikadze (captain), M Modebadze, L Khmaladze, V Lobzhanidze, M Nariashvili, J Bregvadze, L Chilachava, K Mikautadze, G Nemsadze, L Lomidze, V Kolelishvili, B Bitsadze.

Replacements: S Mamukashvili, K Asieshvili, S Bekoshvili, G Chkhaidza, G Tkhilaishvili, G Begadze, R Jintchvelashvili, M Kvirikashvili.

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)