MORGAN Knowles expects a World Cup baptism of fire when he lines up for Wales against Papua New Guinea in the Port Moresby football stadium cauldron next Saturday.

But it is a challenge the 20-year-old Super League Man of Steel Young Player of the Year nominee is relishing.

After breaking into the Saints team in 2016, Knowles firmly established himself in the tough middle role to catch the eye this year.

Barrow-boy Knowles, who qualifies for Wales by virtue of his Rhondda Valley-born mother, is now looking to extend his fine 2017 season on to an even bigger global stage.

Knowles said: “I am really pleased to make this tournament. World Cups don’t come around too often, especially in Australia, so I am delighted.”

Knowles flew out to a week-long training camp in Brisbane last Wednesday along with team-mates Regan Grace and Ben Morris.

John Kear’s Wales squad will arrive in the rugby league-obsessed Papua New Guinea two days before they.

The team is braced for a fervently fanatical crowd and a physical opposition, laced with NRL talent.

But Knowles, who last week penned a new four-year contract at Saints, is excited, rather than over-awed.

He said: “I have had heard the stories about the place and I have seen the way they play.

“But I am looking forward to the experience of it.

“In Papua New Guinea the players are treated like movie stars.

“Even moving on from there I am looking forward to the rest of tournament with games in North Queensland and then Perth.

“I went to Sydney with the Saints academy so I happy with the travelling and see a lot more of the country.”

After the Papua New Guinea opener, Wales play Fiji in Townsville and will round off the group stages with a clash against Ireland in Perth, That will see Knowles comes up against a few familiar faces.

“Ireland have got a really good team and will be good to meet up with Kyle and Louie out there in that game,” he said.

“They have Shannon McDonnell playing as well. I know Brad Singleton too from my local amateur club, so I have a few friends in the Ireland camp.”

After missing Wales’ qualification matches last autumn, Knowles is back in the mix for the World Cup.

“It’ll be the first World Cup that I’ve played in and it’s really good to be back with the boys,” he said.

“There are a few boys who haven’t been there over the last couple of years like myself and then there are a lot who have. It’s good to see everybody together.

“I want to try and earn selection and, if I am lucky enough to be selected, I wanted to make sure that I perform.

“It’s a big stage against some established players and I want to stand up and be counted.

“We need to try and get as far as we can.

“We have a tight knit group, which should help us massively.

“We need to make sure that we work hard and do all of the simple things right.

“Hopefully, we can put the record straight about not having won a World Cup match since 2000.

“I think we can go well.

“I am really proud of my Welsh roots and to represent the country in the World Cup is a big deal."