Gareth Thomas on Thursday said the time had come to restore the pride in Welsh rugby after a disastrous year by securing a place in the World Cup quarter-finals with victory over Italy on Saturday.
Wales' annus horribilis included losing to Italy in Rome, collecting the Six Nations wooden spoon and suffering 10 straight Test defeats.
But after two warm-up wins and successive victories at the World Cup, Steve Hansen's men go into the game against a depleted Italy side with four wins under their belt and a place in the last eight of the World Cup within touching distance.
"It's now or never for us," said Thomas.
"It's the biggest game I have played in for Wales and I am sure it is for most of the other boys.
"For the team, the coaches, the fans back home who have supported us through some real bad times, I think for everyone involved in Welsh rugby, it would be great if we could go through to the quarter finals.
"Saturday is a big game, for a place in the quarter-finals and to restore some pride into each nation's rugby."
The squad are split over how much motivation they will draw from the defeat to Italy in Rome, but while captain Colin Charvis dismisses it as irrelevant - "this is a totally different competition" - Thomas is gunning for revenge.
The memories of Monday morning training sessions after a weekend defeat, the headlines still looming large from the newspapers and the criticism echoing in the ears remain strong.
And he does not want a repeat episode.
"It's been a really tough year and not having done well in the Six Nations was a killer," said the 29-year-old, who needs one try to equal Ieuan Evans' Welsh record of 33.
"There was a lot of negativity about the boys. We never thought Italy were a weak team but you have to give them credit. They outplayed us, they outmuscled us and deserved to win the game.
"But that is something that will gee us up - we didn't perform as well as we could and it will be a case of revenge come the weekend.
"I think everyone in Wales expected us to win that game and win comfortably.
"When we lost we took a lot of flack and criticism and that is what makes this game even bigger for us."
Thomas returned to the side today as one of 10 personnel changes Hansen made to the starting lineup that scraped past Tonga last weekend.
Fly-half Ceri Sweeney and scrum-half Dwayne Peel will both start the crunch Pool D game, with Stephen Jones and Gareth Cooper relegated to the bench.
Hansen said the selections had, in almost all circumstances, been a case of horses for courses and that tactical switches would be made at strategic points during the game.
"Every time we play it is a close call (between Peel and Cooper), it just really depends on what we are trying to do and we feel that Dwayne better suits what we want to do early in the game," said Hansen.
"Sweeney has been in good form and Stephen has had a bit of a niggle with his thigh for most of the week so we felt better to start with Ceri.
"He's a cheeky little bugger and he's not overawed by anything. He's a good ball-player, he combines well with Iestyn Harris - he's just a good rugby player."
Harris and winger Mark Jones are the only members of the backs to survive the cull, with Sonny Parker replacing Mark Taylor in midfield while Kevin Morgan returns to fullback.
In a bid to combat Italy's famed and, in many circles feared pack, Hansen made sweeping changes to his forwards.
He named an entirely new front row, comprising Neath props Duncan and Adam Jones and hooker Robin McBride and brought in Brent Cockbain to the second row and Martyn Williams to the openside flank, with Charvis switching to number eight.
"There is no secret our strength is in our backs, but this game like most games will have to be won up front," said Hansen.
"I think Italy will want to take us on up front, they'll want to use their big ball-runners.
"We've got to make sure that we meet the Italian passion and go forward in everything we do."
Wales team to play Italy in Canberra on Saturday is: K Morgan; M Jones, S Parker, I Harris, G Thomas; C Sweeney, D Peel; D Jones, R McBride, A Jones, B Cockbain, G Llewellyn, D Jones, M Williams, C Charvis (captain)
Replacements: M Davies, G Jenkins, R Sidoli, J Thomas, G Cooper, S Jones, R Williams.