ANDREW Gay goes into South Wales Scorpions' crucial play-off clash tomorrow with confidence soaring.

The Scorpions' 20-year-old half-back completed a successful first season in Wales by being named in the Co-operative Championship 1 Team of the Month for August, announced in Rugby League World magazine.

"It was a bit of a surprise but it feels really good to be recognised," he said.

Gay and his Scorpions team-mates are preparing for their first-round play-off match at Rochdale Hornets tomorrow (3pm). The Neath-based side will be underdogs for the match at Spotland, but Gay remains confident they can pull off a shock.

"The game at Rochdale will be tough for us," he added.

"It's a bit frustrating knowing that you don't have a full-strength side out as a few of the boys are injured, but I think we still have the players to do the job."

Gay originates from New South Wales, but his father is from Cardiff, making him eligible to play for Wales.

"I wanted to experience playing rugby league in Wales," he said. "Everyone told me that playing footy in the UK was a bit different to Australia so I wanted to give it a go. And as I have a Welsh passport, it wasn't a problem."

He made his debut in the red shirt last week, taking the field against Leeds Rhinos and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats at Headingley in a Nines tournament.

"I've hardly taken the shirt off," he admitted. "They gave it to us after the games last Wednesday and I've been wearing it almost ever since.

"My dad was a bit disappointed that he couldn't be there."

Gay is now hoping to make the full 13-man Wales side next month. Wales play a friendly in Wrexham against Italy on October 3 but Gay hopes to make the side for the Alitalia European Cup game against Ireland at his home ground The Gnoll a fortnight later.