WARREN Gatland says Wales will put the heat on France's teenage novice Romain Ntamack in Paris tomorrow evening.

The 19-year-old Toulouse centre will make his Test debut in the Six Nations opener after being preferred to powerhouse Mathieu Bastareaud, a call that caught the Welsh management by surprise.

Ntamack will slot in next to classy Clermont Auvergne centre Wesley Fofana to make his international bow 25 years after his father, legendary wing Emile, wore the blue jersey for the first time.

Gatland hopes Wales can play on the inexperience of a player who helped France win the World Rugby U20 Championship last summer.

"There is no doubt he has had some big games for Toulouse and he is learning and doing well," said Gatland. "But it's tough in your first game.

"Players say when you go out in that first international, things are happening quicker than they have ever happened before, so your decision-making has to improve and the pace of the game is at a new level.

"And that can, for younger players, take a few games to get things under your belt.

"That may happen, or he might just slot straight in and be a superstar, you don't know.

"We need to look at putting him under pressure by challenging him on decision-making and defence, and giving him no time on the ball and making it a tough day for him.

"I go back to one of (Wales centre) Jonathan Davies' first games in the (Principality) Stadium against Australia, and we often joke about that because he was like a rabbit in the headlights.

"Everything was happening so fast for him he was struggling to keep up with the game. It took him four or five games, and now he is a world-class centre."

France coach Jacques Brunel has faith in the teenager, who was a key figure in helping Toulouse qualify for the quarter-finals of the European Champions Cup.

Brunel said: "Everyone recognises the quality of the kid. We've been expecting him for a while.

"He's shown since the start of the season that he can adapt to the level he is faced with. He still has another step to take but we don't doubt that he can overcome that obstacle."

Wales will target the 10/12 channel but they also want to play at high tempo to avoid an arm wrestle with Les Bleus' hefty pack.

Brunel has opted for a monstrous pack featuring 24st tighthead Uini Atonio, South-African born debutant Paul Willemse at lock and bullocking number eight Louis Picamoles.

"It looks to me like they've got a big, bruising forward pack and a back-line with flair, talent and footwork," said Gatland.

"The game is about getting over the gain-line and getting front-foot ball. We will use our wingers or midfield.

"They will probably use their forward pack. It's an exciting challenge."

France: M Medard (Toulouse); D Penaud (Clermont Auvergne), W Fofana (Clermont Auvergne), R Ntamack (Toulouse), Y Huget (Toulouse); C Lopez (Clermont Auvergne), M Parra (Clermont Auvergne); J Poirot (Bordeaux-Begles), G Guirado (Toulon, capt), U Atonio (La Rochelle), S Vahaamahina (Clermont Auvergne), P Willemse (Montpellier), W Lauret (Racing 92), A Iturria (Clermont Auvergne), L Picamoles (Montpellier).

Replacements: J Marchand (Toulouse), D Priso (La Rochelle), D Bamba (Brive), F Lambey (Lyon), G Alldritt (La Rochelle), B Serin (Bordeaux-Begles), G Fickou (Stade Francais), G Doumayrou (La Rochelle).

Wales: L Williams (Saracens); G North (Ospreys), J Davies (Scarlets), H Parkes (Scarlets), J Adams (Worcester); G Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), T Williams (Cardiff Blues); R Evans (Scarlets), K Owens (Scarlets), T Francis (Exeter), A Beard (Ospreys), A W Jones (Ospreys, capt), J Navidi (Cardiff Blues), J Tipuric (Ospreys), R Moriarty (Dragons).

Replacements: E Dee (Dragons), W Jones (Scarlets), S Lee (Scarlets), C Hill (Dragons), A Wainwright (Dragons), G Davies (Scarlets), D Biggar (Northampton), O Watkin (Ospreys).

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)