The first Wales senior trail in 14 years takes place on Friday, May 30 as Warren Gatland’s troops get set for the summer tour of South Africa.
And given that the prospect of international recognition is combined with a chance to get one over on team-mates and rivals alike, Edwards believes a big battle lies in wait at the Liberty Stadium.
“You play your hardest rugby against your mates and people who you know,” said Edwards. “That’s my experience from playing rugby.
“When you are playing against people you know, you want to be at your best because you don’t want your opposite number not respecting you. When you go to another club and play against people you know, you want them to respect you.
“You want to make sure you’re at your absolute best. Next time you’re at training when you’re in the same team, he might not think so much of you if you haven’t put it in in this game and showed your merits, both in your physicality and in your skill level.
“We are having this trial because we want people to be match fit and they need to be going hammer and tongs at each other. They’re playing for places.”
With the Ospreys just missing out on a play-off spot in the RaboDirect PRO12, all four regions have now finished their seasons a full month before Wales play the first Test against the Springboks in Durban on June 14.
Edwards admits that failing to fill that gap without any competitive rugby could leave the tourists undercooked, something he feels Wales have suffered from in the past and something they are determined not to experience again.
“It has been an issue for us before having that six-week break, particularly in 2012 when we went to Australia,” added Edwards.
“In the first half (of the opening Test) in Brisbane we were miles off the pace. In the second half we were all over Australia.
“Being match fit is a vital component because when you are playing Test rugby because you are hanging on by your finger nails. You need to be battle hardened and fit as a fiddle because you are playing against the world’s best players.
“We’re going to South Africa and that’s the toughest place to go to play rugby in the world – physically it is the hardest place to play rugby. New Zealand based players are incredibly skilful etc but, for pure physicality and aggression, we’re going to the hardest place in the world to play and we need to be ready.
“They are having a warm-up game against a Rest of the World side so it shows how serious they are taking it.”
