WALES coach Shaun Edwards expects to be working with a dramatically improved Hallam Amos this autumn thanks to the Newport Gwent Dragons wing learning from the very best in New Zealand.

The 22-year-old from Cross Ash will link up with the national squad on Monday after being named as one of a quintet of back three players for the Tests against Australia, Argentina, Japan and South Africa.

The winger started all three Tests against the All Blacks but now faces a battle with Lions aces Leigh Halfpenny and Alex Cuthbert, who are back from injury to join Amos, George North and Liam Williams.

The Dragons prospect has made a superb start to the season with tries against Munster, the Scarlets and Brive, while he has defended solidly to go along with his potent attacking threat.

That comes after a summer in which he locked horns with classy Ben Smith, a World Cup winner and arguably the best player on the planet. The All Blacks ace taught Amos some tough lessons but Wales defence coach Edwards believes the Dragon has the character to draw inspiration from such a duel.

"There are two ways you are going to go, you'll either get worse because he has ruined you and you think you're not very good as a rugby player or you can go the other way," said Edwards.

"You say, 'you know what, I've played against one of the best in the world. Did he get the better of me? Probably, but next time he will see how much I've improved'.

"I am sure Hallam is the sort of individual who is the latter – he will want to learn from Ben Smith and improve because against someone like him you cannot make any technical, tactical or mental errors because he will punish you."

Rugby league icon Edwards likened Amos' experience to his own battle with the best after the Wigan hall of famer enjoyed a brief spell with Sydney club Balmain Tigers in 1989.

"I went to the NRL and came back a 20 per cent better player. I am sure Hallam will have done the same because he has played against the very best in New Zealand," said Edwards, whose Tigers team lost the grand final to Canberra Raiders in extra time.

"He will have seen the difference in the speed of the game since coming back home and will be thinking it feels quite slow. That's good because next time against that standard it won't be a shock."

Amos and Dragons teammate Tyler Morgan will not be involved in Saturday's European Rugby Challenge Cup clash against Enisei in Russia.

A decision will be made next week on which players, if any, will be released for the Guinness Pro12 derbies with the Dragons taking on the Ospreys and Cardiff Blues hosting the Scarlets.