Wales tackle world champions New Zealand at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, when they will aim to end a run of 29 successive defeats against the All Blacks.
Here, we look at some of the talking points going into the game.
The odds are stacked against Wales
There is no disgrace being second-favourites in a Test match against New Zealand, given the All Blacks' ongoing dominance of the world game. Wales, though, have not toppled them since 1953, a year that saw Queen Elizabeth II's coronation, Sir Edmund Hillary climb Mount Everest and Dwight D Eisenhower inaugurated as President of the United States. Wales have conceded almost 1,000 points during that run of losses, with 15 of those defeats being inflicted on them in Cardiff. Wales went close in 1978 and 2004, losing by a point on each occasion, but it is 64 years and counting since they claimed the sport's biggest scalp.
Absent friends
Professional rugby union's concerning injury rate means both Wales and New Zealand are without a number of key players this weekend. Sam Warburton, Jonathan Davies and Liam Williams are among those who miss out for Wales, while the All Blacks are minus star names such as skipper Kieran Read and Dane Coles, plus Israel Dagg, Owen Franks and a rested Brodie Retallick. New Zealand will field just five starting XV survivors from their third Test line-up against the British and Irish Lions in Auckland four months ago, but while both sides are not at full strength, a sold-out Principality Stadium should still witness a high-octane occasion.
Wales can take a leaf out of Scotland's book
Although Scotland suffered a 22-17 defeat against the All Blacks at Murrayfield on Saturday, their performance template was impressive. They shaded territory and possession, and when the Scots had the ball they did not give it up easily. Wales are developing their attacking style with two midfield playmakers in Dan Biggar and Owen Williams, a combination that impressed during the loss to Australia earlier this month. It is a high-risk, high-reward approach, yet Wales must not deviate from it. Scotland backed their attacking instincts in the heat of battle, and Wales need to follow suit.
Can Wales' Lions roar?
While Wales have to go back more than half a century for the last time they beat New Zealand, four members of Saturday's matchday 23 - Rhys Webb, Ken Owens, Alun Wyn Jones and Taulupe Faletau - were part of the Lions team and replacements that toppled the All Blacks in Wellington earlier this year. While that winning feeling will not decide Saturday's encounter, it should at least permeate a Wales team and generate belief that New Zealand can be beaten. Whether Wales get anywhere near that Holy Grail remains to be seen, but mission improbable is perhaps just that little bit less daunting.
Let the rugby do the talking
This week's build-up has been refreshingly devoid of the media spin and mind games that accompanied the Lions' 2017 tour, when Wales head coach Warren Gatland and his New Zealand counterpart Steve Hansen were in a piercing spotlight. The sideshow has mercifully not materialised, and Saturday's main event is now ready to take centre-stage. It has the potential to entertain and exhilarate.