Delve: Looking to impress

And no-one could accuse the 28-year-old forward of trying to achieve it the easy way.

Delve, fresh from a first full season of Super Rugby with the Melbourne Rebels, is about to embark on a three-Test schedule that will decide his World Cup fate.

The former Gloucester captain is determined to do everything in his power to be part of Wales coach Warren Gatland's 30-man group that leaves for New Zealand on August 31.

He has never previously played in a World Cup - shoulder and knee problems during an injury-hit career wrecked his hopes in 2003 and 2007 - yet Delve has arguably found the form of his life heading towards Wales' opening warm-up clash against England on Saturday.

Although the Rebels often found it tough going during their first season of Super Rugby, Delve was unquestionably a soaraway success story.

He started the campaign as vice-captain, but then took over leadership duties when Stirling Mortlock was injured and delivered one quality performance after another.

And having linked up with the Wales squad for their second training camp in Poland last month, he now looks set to feature at Twickenham.

"It is great to be involved and have a chance to get on the plane for New Zealand," said the number eight.

"I want the chance to get out on to the field this month and show what I can do. This is one of the fittest squads I have ever been involved with, and it has been hard getting up to their standard.

"The first week in Poland I was just trying to show I was worth a place in the squad.

"Hopefully, now I can start to have a bit more impact on the place and try to show I have learned a few things and I am a better player.

"I have played rugby in different countries and parts of the world, but this (World Cup) is a huge ambition I have not fulfilled yet.

"This is always the tough part, but we can only take 30 players to the World Cup and the back row is one of the most competitive areas, so it's hard to know who is going to make it."

Eleven caps during a Test career that began in 2006 seem scant reward for a player of Delve's pedigree, but that has to be balanced against injuries including two major shoulder problems, cruciate knee ligament damage and a broken foot.

Eyebrows were raised in some quarters when Delve decided to become a rebel with a cause, leaving behind England's Premiership for new territory last year and the chance to test himself against southern hemisphere rugby's finest.

But Delve said: "The Australian experience has been fantastic.

"Super Rugby is different to what I was used to, but I never thought that going to Australia would mark the end of my international career.

"My ambition has always been to play in the World Cup, something I have never done, and I knew that if I proved myself against the best of the players in the southern hemisphere I would have a chance.

"It is up to me now to show that I am worth a place. It is a big opportunity for me.

"We have such a strong squad that there is fierce competition for places, and we have a big couple of weeks coming up. If you are not at the top of your game, you will not get a start.

"We will go to New Zealand with high hopes of going further than we have been before in the World Cup. It is all about confidence - we back ourselves and believe we can cause a few upsets.

"It would mean a huge amount to me to make the World Cup squad. The pressure is on, and I am looking forward to getting stuck in."

Gatland, meanwhile, will name the starting line-up for Twickenham on Thursday, with captain Matthew Rees the only confirmed non-starter as an ongoing neck problem continues to be treated.

Cardiff Blues flanker Sam Warburton, who led Wales against the Barbarians in June, will continue as skipper in Rees' absence.