Principality Stadium, 2.45pm Wales Scotland
Anscombe? We know he can attack. Now he needs to show he can run a Test team with authority. Others will be under scrutiny, too. In particular, Gatland will be watching closely how Smith performs in opposition to WP Nel.
It won’t be easy for the Welshman, for Nel was arguably the best tighthead at the last World Cup when he proved himself a scrum breaker and then a bit more.
But if Smith can stand firm in the set-pieces and hit his default setting in the loose for the Ospreys, achieving turnovers and coming up with multiple carries and tackles, he will strengthen his claims to be part of Gatland’s World Cup squad.
The Kiwi isn’t certain to take three specialist loose-heads, so the battle is well and truly on to command a spot in his top two.
Elsewhere, just a few months ago few would have picked out Lydiate to feature in the autumn opener.
Blighted by a succession of injuries and assailed by suggestions that the modern game had passed him by, he looked in danger of slipping clean out of Wales contention.
Even now, there are some who say needs to bolt a few more mod cons onto his game.
Maybe they are right.
But, ultimately, rugby is a physical challenge and no-one ever criticised the All Blacks for turning to Jerome Kaino in his bone-rattling pomp.
As human barricades go, few shape up as convincingly as Lydiate.
If he can carry a bit more and come up with the odd turnover, it would help his cause no end.
But his first priority will be to plonk the metaphorical equivalent of a ‘No Entry’ sign in front of Scotland’s ball carriers.
Can Morgan make the step up to the Test scene after just seven games of regional rugby? It would be some achievement if he could.
And is Lewis yet the real deal as a Test scrummager?
Gatland will be delighted if he provides convincing evidence on that score.
A win over the Scots would give Wales momentum for the Tests that Reps:
Referee: Assistant referees:
TV match official:
TV: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Wayne Barnes (England), Frank Murphy (Ireland) Rowan Kitt (England) BBC One, 2.15pm; S4C, 2.15pm
follow.
Catch the visitors on a good day and they can be a handful, playing with the pace and skill that are hallmarks of Gregor Townsend sides.
They are without unavailable exiles such as Finn Russell, Sean Maitland and Greig Laidlaw, but with eight Glasgow players and seven Edinburgh personnel in their starting line-up they will boast serious familiarity.
Yet again, Wales are minus Taulupe Faletau.
Once noted for his durability, he has found injuries following him around since his move to Bath. Indeed, in the two seasons and a bit that he has been playing in England, he has started just eight of the 23 matches Wales have played. Read into that what you will, but it isn’t an encouraging stat for anyone
of a Welsh persuasion.
But Ross Moriarty filled in at No.8 without fuss on tour last summer and Gatland will want him to reproduce that form, preferably without the neck chokes. Total commitment, yes; throttling opponents, no – whatever the provocation.
Physical domination is usually a starting point for Welsh success in this fixture and it will be the same again. But discipline matters, too.
Wales boast a long unbeaten record at home to the Scots stretching back to 2002.
Scotland will look to test the Welsh scrum, but Gatland’s team carry experience, presence and quality in key areas.
Familiar foes and a familiar result in the Welsh capital, then?
It will be something of a surprise if it’s not.