| The new Gloucester scrum half has got the nod for the first time from Gareth Jenkins and knows that Rugby World Cup places are hanging in the balance at the weekend as the Wales Coach looks to trim his 40 man squad to 30.
The 28-year-old British Lion will be making his first start for Wales in 18 months since featuring in the win over Australia in November 2005. In Jenkins's 13 games in charge he has played only 16 minutes in two appearances off the bench.
"Every international is big. I've been involved in big games in the past, like when I played against England in the quarter-finals of the 2003 Rugby World Cup," said Cooper, who will win his 34th cap.
"That was a huge match but, where I am at the moment, this is the biggest game of my career."
Cooper quit Welsh regional rugby this summer for a second spell in the English Premiership having become frustrated at being ranked No.3 in the Welsh scrum half pecking order behind Dwayne Peel and Mike Phillips.
That's why he sees Saturday's Twickenham clash as such a vital opportunity as he teams up with his former Dragons half back partner Ceri Sweeney.
"It's been frustrating for me over the last couple of years because I've been involved in all the squads but I've never had the chance to play," admitted Cooper.
"Dwayne and Mike have been exceptional over the last couple of seasons and it has been very difficult for me to break back in. But now I've got the chance this weekend to go out there and show what I can do again. I hope it will go well.
"I've played a lot with Ceri over the last three years at the Dragons and it's been a successful partnership. I enjoy playing with him and he's also one of my best friends. We have to go out there as a team and perform well. That's our only chance of getting selected for the World Cup."
Cooper insists that although Wales have lost on their last nine visits to Twickenham, they are ready to build on their victory over the old enemy in Cardiff earlier this year and kick-start their Rugby World Cup campaign.
"It's a huge challenge for us. I have played there three times before and it's always a huge occasion," he said.
"We all know how difficult it is to go to Twickenham and win. But wouldn't that be a great start to our Rugby World Cup preparations?"
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