Ian Gough insists Wales must be prepared to play right on the edge of the laws if they are to stop Italy in Saturday's RBS 6 Nations showdown at the Millennium Stadium.
Wales coach Warren Gatland has already expressed his concern at Italy's breakdown tactics, claiming they were not policed strictly enough in their narrow defeat to England.
Gatland will have voiced his concerns to the officials before kick-off and his message has been passed on loud and clear to the players.
Gough is ready to "graft and toil" and push the boundaries as far as he can in order to keep the Italians on the back foot and earn prime attacking ball for the Welsh backs.
"The Italians try to get away with a lot at the breakdown. It is something we put special detail on because we want the best quality ball we can get," said Gough.
"We have to make sure we do our job to stop that happening (Italy using illegal tactics) and hopefully the referee will help.
"We all get away with what we try to get away with. We push everything to the limit and it is happy days when you do get away with it.
"But we have to make sure it doesn't impact on the team performance with penalties being given away.
"We don't want to give penalties away because it gives them kicks to touch and lineouts in our territory where they are strong. The less penalties we give away the less platform they have to work from."
The forwards collision has dominated the pre-match build-up as Wales prepare to lock horns with one of the most powerful packs in world rugby.
Gough also expects Italy to be smarting after their narrow defeat to England a fortnight ago.
The Azzurri worked one excellent late chance to win but their lineout crumbled under a brilliant defensive performance from Steve Borthwick and England held on.
"They are a very set-piece dominated team," said Gough.
"The amount of ball they had against England in that second half, they will be disappointed they didn't come away with a win.
"They showed what a strength they are. England defended the lineout very well towards the end and disrupted the Italians. Over the last couple of years they have had some of the best lineout stats. In set-piece terms they are a crack outfit.
"I haven't seen them pick a pack that hasn't looked formidable over the last few years. They have been the thorn in a lot of people's sides.
"England have always got a big pack but Italy were a match and it was a pretty tight, hard-fought game. You know it will be a massive forward battle and they do have backs that can do something if they get the chance."
Gonzalo Canale and Mirco Bergamasco are a dangerous centre combination but Wales boast a back division with greater variety and attacking threat.
Italy have persisted with playing centre Andrea Masi out of position at fly-half while full-back Andrea Mercato and wing Alberto Sgarbi boast just five caps between them.
Wales have made six changes, but it would be hard to argue the introduction of Dwayne Peel, Stephen Jones and Mark Jones weakens their back division at all.
And if Gough and his forward colleagues can provide that attacking platform, Mark Jones is convinced Wales will have too much firepower out wide.
"I would like to think that I can bring something extra to the team, with my attacking ability," said Jones.
"I look at our back three and, without meaning to be arrogant, I think we probably have more than they do.
"If myself, Shane (Williams) and Lee (Byrne) can get the ball in hand in a little bit of space, in good positions, we can cause them some problems."
Teams:
Wales: L Byrne (Ospreys); M Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), G Henson (Ospreys), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), D Peel (Llanelli Scarlets); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Rees (Llanelli Scarlets), R Thomas (Newport Gwent Dragons), I Gough (Ospreys), I Evans (Ospreys), J Thomas (Ospreys), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys, capt).
Replacements: H Bennett (Ospreys), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Deiniol Jones (Cardiff Blues), G Delve (Gloucester), M Phillips (Ospreys), J Hook (Ospreys), S Parker (Ospreys).
Italy: A Marcato (Treviso); A Sgarbi (Treviso), G Canale (Clermont-Auvergne), Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais), E Galon (Overmach Parma); A Masi (Biarritz), S Picone (Treviso); S Perugini (Toulouse), L Ghiraldini (Calvisano), M Castrogiovanni (Leicester), S Dellape' (Biarritz), CA del Fava (Ulster), J Sole (Viadana), Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Francais), S Parisse (Stade Francais).
Replacements: C Festuccia (Racing-Metro), A lo Cicero (Racing-Metro), M Bortolami (Gloucester), A Zanni (Calvisano), Pietro Travagli (Overmarch Parma), P Buso (Calvisano), E Patrizio (Petrarca Padova).
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