Jenkins and lock Alun-Wyn Jones are the only two starting XV survivors from Wales’ last victory over Australia five years ago.
Since then, the Wallabies have reeled off eight successive wins, with Wales losing 17 Tests in a row to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
While Jenkins, whose 101st Wales appearance will make him his country’s most-capped forward ahead of flanker Martyn Williams, accepts that Saturday’s game means little with regard to the countries’ 2015 World Cup pool meeting, he also knows a home triumph is essential.
“We just want to concentrate on this game. Winning is everything,” the Cardiff Blues forward said.
“We came off second-best against South Africa (three weeks ago), but we are hoping it will be a bit different on Saturday.
“We are working as hard as we can. It’s not like we look at the southern hemisphere and think ‘we’re struggling there’.
“They are really good teams and they play in a really good competition in the Rugby Championship.
“They always seem to have that little bit of an edge on us, and we’ve been playing catch-up over the past four or five years, but we will continue to work to get to that level.”
Jenkins was a member of the British and Irish Lions squad that enjoyed a victorious tour to Australia earlier this year, but injury meant he did not play a game.
So unlike many of his Wales colleagues this weekend, Jenkins’ wait for a win against the Wallabies stretches back to 2008.
“I’ve lost, I think, the last six games against them,” he added. “I definitely have two of those games in my mind where I think we were naive to lose in the last minute or two.
“I definitely want to put that right at the weekend, but Australia are a great team with quality throughout their side, especially at half-back, at 15 and in the forwards.
“(Kurtley) Beale’s try was the finale of last year’s game (Wales lost 14-12), but there were a couple of key moments just before it where we messed up.
“I suppose that was another learning curve for us in terms of what needs to be done to shut games off. I know it was only a year ago, but it feels like a long time ago, given the amount of games we’ve played in between.”
Rugby - Winning is everything - Jenkins
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