Ronaldo test prims N Ireland's Hughes for Bale battle

Aaron Hughes says keeping Wales' talisman Gareth Bale quiet in Saturday's last 16 clash at Euro 2016 will take a team effort -- as Northern Ireland have already proven against Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Welsh take on Michael O'Neill's Northern Irish at Paris' Parc de Princes on Saturday for a place in the quarter-finals against either Hungary or Belgium.

Real Madrid star Bale has been on fire, scoring in all three games as Wales beat England to top spot in Group B, and stopping him is occupying Northern Irish minds.

"That's the big question, it's something we're looking at and preparing for," said left-back Hughes.

"A player of that calibre is always going to be a challenge."

However, putting the brakes on a superstar is nothing new for the 36-year-old veteran defender.

Hughes was credited with keeping Cristiano Ronaldo quiet the night he won his 100th cap for Portugal in a 1-1 draw against Northern Ireland in October 2012.

Ronaldo drew a blank at Porto's Estadio do Dragao as Niall McGinn put the Irish ahead before Helder Postiga rescued Portugal's blushes with a late equaliser.

Now Hughes, a free agent after a season in Australia with Melbourne City, is relishing the challenge of keeping Bale quiet.

"It's great. One of the best things about playing at a tournament like this is coming up against some of the best players in the world," said Hughes, who has played for Newcastle, Aston Villa and Fulham .

"But that night (against Portugal) was a team effort.

"You can never really deal with the threat of a player of that calibre by marking him one-on-one.

"You need to work as a team. It can't be just down to one player, it'll take a big effort from all of us."

Northern Ireland held Wales to a 1-1 draw in Cardiff in a friendly in March and the Irish expect another battle royal.

"It will be a fantastic game and the atmosphere will be tremendous, as good as any atmosphere we've seen at any game in this tournament," said Hughes.

"Our fans have been terrific and the Welsh fans have been similar, loyal to their team and very vocal."

Northern Ireland striker Kyle Lafferty matched Bale's feats in qualifying by scoring seven goals to send the Irish to their first major tournament in 30 years.

But having only started one of his side's three games in the group stage, the Norwich City frontman was temporarily flustered by the comparison.

"I don't know what to say about that," said the 28-year-old.

"I scored a few in the qualifiers, I haven't got off the mark yet and obviously what a stage it would be to do that on Saturday.

"It's going to be a tough game.

"Gareth Bale is their stand-out player, you don't play for Real Madrid by being average.

"But we have one of the best defences in the tournament."

Nevertheless, Lafferty bullishly backed Northern Ireland to win the Euro 2016 title on their debut at a European championship finals.