HUW Bennett will take the field for Wales against Ireland tomorrow looking to show the Ospreys why they should nail him down on a new contract.

It is a big day for a player whose form went through the roof at the Rugby World Cup.

He becomes only the second hooker to win 50 caps for Wales, following in the footsteps of Garin Jenkins, and he will also want to prove a point on the big stage in Dublin.

Out of contract at the end of the season, he finds himself negotiating new terms at a time when the salary cap is being brought in and professional players in Wales have never felt more vulnerable.

But Bennett is settled at the Liberty and in no hurry to move on.

Asked whether he hoped to stay in Wales and with the Ospreys he said: "Yes on both counts.

"Obviously I am out of contract at the end of the season and there are decisions to be made, not just at the Ospreys but all over Wales.

"It's going to be an interesting time with what's happening but I am not the only player out of contract. There are a couple of players in the same position and we don't really know what's going on.

"Hopefully it will be sorted out sooner rather than later."

A good show from the 28-year-old former Swansea player at the Aviva Stadium would underline his worth — though he could justifiably argue he has little to prove to anyone after the way he played at the World Cup, when he was one of Wales's best players.

Whatever, he is delighted to reach a half-century of caps, saying: "Of course it's pleasing.

"It's such an achievement to get your first cap, then your second and third and so on. Then you have a goal to get to double figures, then it's about continuing to play for Wales but your 50th cap still looks a long way away.

"It's probably something I will look back on and savour rather than go into too much at this point.

"But now it's come around it's an achievement I will be very proud of.

"The main thing this weekend is the game and doing what I can to help the team, but there's also that extra incentive to do well because it's your 50th cap."

In Bennett's sights is Jenkins's 58-cap mark, though he insists he isn't one for dwelling on records and accolades. "I'm sure Garin started a lot more games than me," he said.

"For me it's all about keeping going. It is an honour to get to 50 but the game is more important than personal honours."

If Bennett plays as he did at the World Cup he could be a candidate for the Lions. Was it a goal to make next year's tour of Australia? "Of course, but I am a week-to-week kind of player," he said. "In my experience a lot can happen in a short space of time.

"You do need to have the long-term goals as well to make sure you keep putting in the hard work.

"The challenge for me and the team is to perform against Ireland. Their pack are at full strength, the provinces have been going well, so we know it's going to be a big task.

"But we are going to take it to them."

MARK ORDERS