The series opener has taken on a different complexion since Scotland beat Australia 9-6 at a windswept and rain-soaked Hunter Stadium in Newcastle on Tuesday. The Wallabies have not lost two games in a row since August 2010 and have not lost on home soil to Wales since 1969. “Wales are going to be very excited about what is coming up this month,” Deans said. “It is a precursor to next year’s British & Irish Lions series. They know their coach [Warren Gatland] is going to be the Lions coach and that if they do well out here it will enhance their chances of selection. “And everyone wants to go on a Lions tour – it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We’re not thinking that far ahead yet, merely concentrating on Saturday’s first game in the series. “You will see fresh legs and a fresh mindset. We need to make some progress around the elements of cohesion that were evidently lacking against Scotland. “There are no new injury worries, and David Pocock will be fine once he’s warmed up, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the Welsh adapt their tactics to make the most of us having played two games in a week. “The conditions are likely to be different and the Welsh side play a distinct style of game. It will be different and there will be tactics used over the three matches. They know us pretty well, having played us twice in our past three games, and they will be ready. They have had time together and, having just come out of a season, they are conditioned to the game and they will have had a month’s preparation as well.” New skipper Pocock had to be treated for the effects of hypothermia at the end of the Scotland defeat, while all the players admitted they were the worst conditions they had ever played in. Pocock will lead the side at the weekend in a game that will see him go head-to-head with Welsh skipper and openside flanker Sam Warburton. Wales can expect to face a new front row unit while Adam Ashley-Cooper is coming in to bolster the back division, but they definitely will not see Quade Cooper. Deans confirmed he will be sticking with his decision last week to send Cooper back to the Queensland Reds to get more game time under his belt before attempting a return to the international arena after seven months on the sidelines following knee surgery. “There is no chance of bringing Quade Cooper back into the squad. It’s not worth the risk and it would be negligent – it could compromise him and possibly the team,” Deans added. The coach gave fifth choice outside-half Berrick Barnes his first start at No 10 under his coaching in Newcastle, but the Waratahs’ pivot failed to find a way to unlock the Scottish defence in 35 minutes spent camped in their territory in the second half. “We knew what this week was going to be like and we gave a lot of thought to our combinations. Even so, we came up short in the first instance,” Deans admitted. “Our plans for the weekend started the moment the final whistle blew on Tuesday night and we know there are significant areas of our game that will have to improve. “If any of the Australian players had forgotten what Test rugby is like it is looming large in their minds now. The players are back in the groove of Test rugby and face a massive game on Saturday.” The scheduling of the Scotland match just three days after the end of the last Super Rugby round, and four days before the series against Wales begins, has attracted criticism. But Deans was not prepared to take the blame for the decision to squeeze the fixture into an already crowded calendar, as a favour to the Scots and not for revenue generation according to the Australian Rugby Union. “Those decisions are made further up the food chain,” explained Deans. Wales, meanwhile, trained for the first time together as a full squad yesterday and have a full strength squad to choose from. The 16 players who headed to Brisbane before the win over the Barbarians last weekend are likely to form the bulk of the starting XV to open the series at the Suncorp Stadium. Stand-in head coach Rob Howley, deputising for the injured Gatland, will officially name his team today in Brisbane. Wales have played four times in Brisbane on summer tours, losing all four, three times at the World Cup – winning one and losing two – and three times in provincial matches on tour, winning one and losing two.