As Wales and Australia prepare to do battle on the rugby pitch this weekend, the respective football associations of each country are locking horns over the talents of young Premiership footballer Rostyn Griffiths.

The Blackburn Rovers midfielder is in the middle of a tug-of-war with both sides keen to secure his services, although Griffiths is as yet undecidced where his loyalties lie.

The 20-year-old was raised in the western Australian city of Perth, and has appeared for Australia at youth level, has not featured at international level since breaking his leg playing for the Socceroo U-17s.

He is though, still eligible to play for Wales as he qualifies through his Welsh grandfather. Wales Under-21 boss Brian Flynn recently met up with the young gun - but it now appears Australia have entered the fray reigniting their interest in the player.

It wouldn't be the first time the Dragons and the Socceroos have locked horns over a dual-qualified player. Middlesbrough's supremely talented Australian-born central defender Rhys Williams was the jewel in the heart of the Wales U21 defence, as Flynn's fledgling flew so close to qualifying for the European Under 21 Championships in Sweden next summer.

Griffiths, meanwhile, has been earning rave reviews for his performances on loan to League Two Accrington Stanley, striking his first senior goal - a sizzling 25 yard volley in Stanley's 3-0 triumph over Bournemouth last weekend.

"I'm having a bit of a think at the moment about what to do but we'll have to see. No-one's made a definite move for me yet," Griffiths explained.

"I know that Wales haven't got any more serious games until next year, March time I think.

"But Australia have got friendlies all the time with the Under 23s and the first team.

"The problem, obviously, is with Australia being so far away. So unless they're playing over in Europe the difficulty is getting there. But I've got a meeting with them soon so we'll see what happens.

"The Welsh connection is all through my dad's side. I've still got family that lives in Wales.

"Wales came in for me when I was a young kid and Australia came in for me at the same time.

"But Australia were playing in the World Cup and it was an opportunity, so I took that opportunity there and then.

"Now I'm getting a bit older I'm thinking I'm based in England at the moment, so whatever happens I'll take it as it comes."

Back of the 'net - Welsh football news, gossip, and rumours...

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EDDIE Johnson will come good, says Cardiff City manager Dave Jones.
American striker Johnson was taken off after 45 minutes during the 1-0 Carling Cup defeat in midweek and looked way off the pace, but Jones said: "Eddie has taken longer to settle than we thought he would. Now he has to get his head down and keep working.
"He hasn't yet shown any of the qualities he has or why Fulham paid three million dollars for him.
"The best way to help him through this spell is to encourage Eddie and not keep having a go. He must work hard and get through a tough time.
"The fact is he cares about his football and wants to show Cardiff City fans he is a good player. It would be easy for him to react to the criticism and say he doesn't care, but he isn't like that.
"He cares passionately about his football and wants to come through this spell."

DAVE Jones was shocked by the intense reaction to Cardiff City's Carling Cup exit at Swansea City, saying: "I thought the World had fallen in!"
The Bluebirds, who play Birmingham City at home in the League today, slipped to a first defeat of the season, losing 1-0 against Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.
"It was a massive match and we all knew how much it meant to the fans," said Jones. "But I have never known such a reaction after one match.
"It's as if all hell has broken loose. I'm glad we are joint sixth in the Coca-Cola Championship and still unbeaten.
"I would hate to think what would happen if we were farther down the table.
"That was our first defeat in 18 matches this season - and over the last 50-odd games played wel have lost nine including the FA Cup final. That's not a bad record.
"Yes, we want to win every match. That's the aim, but it doesn't work like that. The players are disappointed by the defeat, of course, and disappointed by the reaction.
"Losing to our main rivals is a massive blow. We understand that. But it's not the end of the world.
"We are smarting after the loss and our job now is to focus on Birmingham City and make sure we extend our unbeaten run in the Championship. We are in a good position with hime matches against Birmingham City and Coventry City to come."
Jones will make changes to his Cardiff City team for today's home clash with the Blues. Tom Heaton is certain to return in goal after making way for Peter Enckelman at Swansea City, while Jay Bothroyd and Ross McCormack look certain to link up in attack.
Stephen McPhail is suspended for one match after being sent off for two bookable offences at the Liberty Stadium with Joe Ledley switching from the left to partner Gavin Rae in the middle.
Peter Whittingham and Paul Parry will play the wide roles in midfield.
Eddie Johnson will be back among the substitutes after failing to impress at Swansea and Jones said: "Eddie has taken longer to settle than we thought he would. Now he has to get his head down and keep working.
"He hasn't yet shown any of the qualities he has or why Fulham paid three million dollars for him.
"The best way to help him through this spell is to encourage Eddie and not keep having a go. He must work hard and get through a tough time.
"The fact is he cares about his football and wants to show Cardiff City fans he is a good player. It would be easy for him to react to the criticism and say he doesn't care, but he isn't like that.
"He cares passionately about his football and wants to come through this spell."

CARDIFF City will give Jay Bothroyd and Ross McCormack the chance to establish themselves as a strike partnership in tomorrow's Coca-Cola Championship match against Birmingham City.
The Bluebirds need goals and they are probably the leading City partnership right now.
McCormack, City's top scorer on five, accepts criticism, saying: "We haven't scored enough goals.
"The criticism doesn't worry us and the journalists are justified in what they are writing because we haven't scored enough goals. We are working hard to put that right - and that doesn't just involve the strikers.
"Everybody is going on about not scoring enough and we'll need goals from all areas if we are to challenge right at the top of the Championship.
"Peter Whittingham has scored a couple and so has Roger Johnson when he comes forward. They'll get more - and Darren Purse will chip in as well.
"We have played some outstanding football at times and now we have to find a cutting edge. We are all working towards that and we want goals from all areas of the team this season.
"Personally, I'm just as happy to score from penalties as I am from open play. It really doesn't matter how the ball goes in as long as it does.
"If I score 20 goals this season and 18 are from penalties I'll take that. I haven't set myself a target, but 20 would be great."

SWANSEA City's squad included new signing Artur Krysiak, a Polish goalkeeper who has come to South Wales on loan from Birmingham City.
The Swans have not usually had a goalkeeper among their substitutes, but with seven allowed for the Carling Cup Krysiak is on duty.

SWANSEA City are likely to play their usual 4-3-3, which switches easily into 4-5-1.
Is that an attacking formation or defensive? It could be either.
Jason Scotland in attack will certainly need support.
Derby County tried to match with Swabsea's formation last week and made a mess of it. Only when they switched to 4-4-2 did they improve and earn a point.
The Bluebirds will stick to their tried and trusted 4-4-2 this evening.
Swansea have gone for a full strength line-up, while City have made a couple of changes.
Cardiff City fans behind the North goal are in fine voice - and the tension is growing.
It's a decade since these two teams met. Both love to play a passing game and surely that will ensure a cracking match.
We'll see over the next few hours.

DAVE Jones called goalkeeper Peter Enckelman and striker Eddie Jones into his team for tonight's Carling Cup South Wales derby.
American Johnson played alongside Jay Bothroyd in the Bluebirds' attack.
Kick-off is less than an hour away - and the fans of Swansea and Cardiff are pouring into the Liberty Stadium.
The atmosphere is building.
Swansea City: D de Vries, A Williams, F Bodde, L Britton, J Scotland, M Gower, J Gomez, G Monk (capt), F Bessone, A Rangel, T Butler. Subs: A Tate, A Orlandi, F Brandy, O Tudor Jones, G Pintado, A Serran, A Krysiak.
Cardiff City: P Enckelman, K McNaughton, D Purse (capt), R Johnson, M Comminges, P Parry, G Rae, S McPhail, J Ledley, E Johnson, J Bothroyd. Subs: T Heaton (gk), P Whittingham, D Dennehy, A Morris, R McCormack, D Blake, M Kennedy.
Referee: Alan Wiley.

THE team sheets have just been handed out at Pride Park and the Bluebirds have gone for an unchanged team.
Paul Parry and Ross McCormack lead the attack with Jay Bothroyd among the substitutes.
Derby recall Rob Hulse after he missed their 1-1 draw against Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium.
The Rams started with a 4-5-1 formation at Swansea, but revert to their usual 4-4-2 this time. That will match up with the way Cardiff City play.
Cardiff City: Heaton, McNaughton, Purse (capt), R Johnson, Comminges, Whittingham, Rae, McPhail, Ledley, McCormack, Parry. Subs: Enckelman (gk), Gyepes, Bothroyd, E Johnson, Morris.

WHO will lead the Cardiff City attack at Derby County today?
Paul Parry has started the last two matches and lined up alongside Ross McCormack at Barnsley. Jay Bothroyd, naturally, was far from happy.
This time it could well be McCormack and Bothroyd.
Dave Jones went with Parry and McCormack to inject extra pace and get at Barnsley's slow-moving centre-back Darren Moore.
It worked and City won.
But it will be a far different test at Derby's Pride Park - and that, I think, will mean Jones going for one change in the team. That will be, in my view, Bothroyd for Parry.
We'll see in a couple of hours when the team sheets are available.

CHRIS Wathan, Mark Bloom and I have just arrived at Pride Park for the big match against Derby County.
The sun is out - and home manager Paul Jewell is already talking up Dave Jones.
In his programme notes Jewell says: "I admire Jones greatly for the way he prepares his teams and the way he conducts business.
"He has done a magnificent job at Cardiff and it is no surprise they have started the season well having built a good squad of players.
"They will certainly be right in the mix at the right end of the table come May."
Is it worrying that Jewell is being so nice before the game? I'd much rather hear thos comments after the final whistle.