Wales attempt to hold onto 11th place in World Rugby's rankings in Tokyo on Saturday, but head coach Sean Lynn has the top six in his sights.
After the encouragement of September performances at Cardiff Arms Park, Lynn's side want to show more signs of progress with two Tests in Japan.
Expectations have grown thanks to the thumping win against South Africa and narrow defeat by USA.
There are rankings ramifications this weekend – whoever loses at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium will drop to 13th place – yet Wales are focused on the bigger picture.
"Looking at the rankings outside the top six, anyone is beating anyone," said Lynn.
Wales were edged out 26-24 by the Eagles, who have slipped to seventh beneath an Australia side that Lynn's team beat in Brisbane in the summer of 2025.
There is a gap to the powerhouses of England, New Zealand, Canada and France, but there is a growing feeling that the Welsh can be climbers to crack the top six, which is Lynn's target.
"That's the journey we're on. The roadmap that we have done is to the 2029 World Cup," he said.
"We need to make sure that we qualify for that, but we definitely want to be in that top six."
Wales were most recently sixth in the world rankings at the start of 2024.
The Cardiff displays were built on a morale-boosting success against the Barbarians at Twickenham, when a young side played with a swagger.
The two Tests in Japan, with the second game in Kumagaya, present another chance to make a statement working towards the Six Nations.
Wales aim to be multi-threat team
Wales' men struggled in the heat of Japan in the summer of 2025 but humidity will be the challenge for the women.
Rain is forecast in Tokyo, which could well play into the hands of the hosts' well-drilled maul.
That is a traditional strength that Wales still have in their back pocket, although they showed signs of a more expansive style last month.
The half-back partnership of Seren Lockwood and Keira Bevan that stretched the South Africans is restored and Nel Metcalfe, a livewire highlight at full-back in the 2025 World Cup, returns from injury on the wing.
Her sister Branwen packs down next to fellow bright prospect Jorja Aiono in a mobile second row, with the well-balanced trio of Alex Callender, Kate Williams and Georgia King in the back row.
Lynn has hammered home the importance of fitness and wants his Wales to possess an all-court game.
"All successful teams need to have that adaptability," said the former Gloucester-Hartpury boss.
"Whenever a side is analysing your game, you want them to be thinking 'how do we stop Wales?', not just about stopping the drive, that they've got nothing else.
"We're looking to play this expansive game but have the driving maul, the set-piece, a strong pick-and-go game."
Well-drilled Japan earn respect
Wales face a Japan side that lost 55-21 to Italy and were beaten twice by Ireland, 31-24 in the WXV Global Series and 43-19 in an extra Test.
The Sakura Fifteen give starts to uncapped number eight Savannah Bodman and centre Sophie Akiko Langford, with fly-half Chihiro Ito set for a debut from the bench.
The fixture is part of a double-header to mark the centenary of the Japan Rugby Football Union, with Lynn expecting the women to provide a stern test after the men have hosted Fiji.
"Japan ran Ireland close in the first Test and they are very efficient in what they do, very regimented," he said.
"They've got a very good maul and we are not going to be taking them lightly at all."
Wales won 19-10 when the teams met in South Africa two years ago.
"We know Japan are going to come out firing," said co-captain Alex Callender before her 50th cap.
"They're playing on their home turf but it's about us sticking to our processes around our defence, attack and our DNA. Do that and we're going to have a good day at the office."
Do that twice in Japan and Wales will be hunting down South Africa, Scotland and Italy in the world rankings.
Form guide
Japan's most notable victory was against Spain at the 2025 World Cup and they suffered a home defeat by Fiji in September before they travelled to Europe for WXV fixtures.
That was the Sakura Fifteen's first match since retaining the Asia Rugby Women's Championship by beating hosts Kazakhstan and Hong Kong China.
- Ireland 43-19 Japan
- Ireland 31-24 Japan
- Italy 55-21 Japan
- Japan 12-15 Fiji
- Hong Kong China 12-71 Japan
If feels like Wales are on the up, but they have the same record in their last five fixtures as Japan.
- Wales 24-26 USA
- Wales 50-19 South Africa
- Wales 24-43 Italy
- Ireland 33-12 Wales
- England 62-24 Wales
The line-ups
Japan: Nishi; Tsunokawa, Langford, Kataoka, Nishimura; Tsukui (capt), Harada; Komaki, Nagaoka, Kitano, Kawamura, Sato, Asari, Korai, Bodman.
Replacements: Nagata, Yoshida, Fuji, Yoshimura, Jennifer, Seo, Ito, Havili Kagawa.
Wales: Neumann; N Metcalfe, Cox, Bell, A Williams; Bevan, Lockwood; M Davies, K Jones, Tuipulotu, B Metcalfe, Aiono, K Williams (co-capt), Callender (co-capt), King.
Replacements: Reardon, Pyrs, E Jones, Crabb, G Evans, B Lewis, George, Keight.
Referee: Julianne Zussman (Canada).
Assitant referees: Sunny Lee (Hong Kong China) & Hibiki Ikeda (Japan).
TMO: Matt Rodden (Hong Kong China).