The two sides meet at Principality Stadium on Saturday with Gatland naming a new-look team which includes Owen Williams, Steffan Evans, Aaron Shingler and Josh Navidi.
It’s an inexperienced quartet which is balanced by seven British & Irish Lions with Gatland looking forward to seeing the new combinations he has at his disposal against the Wallabies.
Gloucester’s Williams starts at inside centre alongside fly-half Dan Biggar in a twin playmaker system.
“This team is a reward for some players. Aaron has proved himself over the last year and Josh has played everywhere across the back-row,” said Gatland who celebrated his 10-year anniversary as Wales coach on Thursday.
“Owen has a pretty good record at centre. Everyone has talked about his attack, but what is going to win Saturday’s game is defence.
“Australia have a massive midfield and two direct wings so I don’t think they’re going to be too worried about throwing the ball around.
“I think they’re going to be pretty direct. We’re going to change the way we play a little bit. For us the result is important, we want to win every game.”
With Justin Tipuric out injured, Cardiff Blues forward Navidi starts on the openside flank, joining Shingler and Taulupe Faletau in the back-row.
With Rhys Webb absent, Gareth Davies begins at scrum-half with Biggar and a midfield combination of Williams and Jonathan Davies outside him.
Leigh Halfpenny and wingers Evans and Liam Williams make up the back three as Wales look for their first win over Australia since 2008.
“I don’t know what it is, but I wouldn’t say Australia are a bogey team,” said Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones.
“We have come very close to beating them and in some games we felt we should have. It is not necessarily a curse. It is going to be a tough ask, but it’s a good first encounter for us.”
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