SHAUN Edwards has swerved talk about his Wales contract situation and says he is far too occupied with plotting a way to stop an all-singing, all-dancing Australia team in Saturday's Rugby World Cup Pool A decider.

Wales assistant coach and defensive specialist Edwards is out of contract after the tournament.

He joined the Wales set-up when Warren Gatland took charge in 2007, and has proved instrumental behind Wales landing three Six Nations title successes, two Grand Slams and reaching the World Cup semi-finals four years ago.

With fall-out continuing from host nation England's failed World Cup campaign and speculation raging about a possible new coaching team being installed, Edwards is among several people who has been linked to a Red Rose post.

Asked about his post-World Cup future on Friday, Edwards said: "Do you know what? I watched Australia play the other day on a couple of tapes, and I've got my hands full thinking about that at the moment, to be honest.

"I think I will just concentrate on trying to beat Australia at the moment. This is a huge game for us. We are playing against the current champions of the southern hemisphere, a team that has been in fantastic form recently.

"Any team that can beat the All Blacks, which they did in the summer, and to win the Rugby Championship you are talking about an incredibly formidable force. We have to be at our absolute best if we have got any chance of beating them."

Wales have lost 10 Tests on the bounce against the Wallabies, although seven of those defeats were by five points or less.

Victory for Wales would secure a quarter-final clash against Scotland or Japan, but if they lose, then a last-eight appointment with twice world champions South Africa beckons.

"Let's make no bones about it, Australia have had the upper hand on us for the last few years, and we are pretty determined to bring our competitive edge out," said Edwards.

"It would be a very good achievement (to finish top of the pool), but we are a little more ambitious than that.

"Last time, we got to the semi-final and everyone knows what happened then. Top of the group would be great, but it is only a pathway to something which hopefully would be bigger and better than that."