Australia's hopes of retaining the Bledisloe Cup for the fourth year running have improved markedly after New Zealand had to make a late revamp to their front row before today's international at the Olympic Stadium.

New Zealand's hooker and vice-captain Mark Hammett withdrew at the final team run with a damaged knee, and has been replaced by the inexperienced Otago front-rower Tom Willis. Although Willis has played three Tests this year, this will be his first major international.

A more difficult initiation for Willis could not be imagined as this return Test will determine whether New Zealand win the Tri-Nations series early and, after a 12-6 triumph in Christchurch last month, also grab the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 1997.

Although Willis is a capable lineout thrower, there is concern in the All Black camp that he is not as powerful as Hammett, or as accustomed to the Canterbury Crusaders' driving forward play, which has been adopted by the New Zealand team this year.

Willis is also aware the pressure will be on him, especially after last year's Bledisloe Cup match in Sydney, where New Zealand failed because their lineout work and throwing fell apart in the final 20 minutes, enabling the departing Wallaby captain John Eales to enjoy the perfect farewell.

However this late and important positional change could not diminish the overwhelming hunger among the All Black players to win the cup.

Before the Christchurch Test, the All Black fly-half Andrew Mehrtens explained how New Zealand were irritated by Australia repeatedly boasting about their glittering trophy cabinet, and that they held virtually every important rugby symbol from World Cup down.

The anti-Australia theme continued when Mehrtens arrived in Sydney. "The Bledisloe Cup is a big bloody trophy, and it's easy to see the space in the cabinet when it's not there," he said. "Having the Cup is something you get used to. So when you lose it to Australia, you lose a big part of yourself. I am no different to any other New Zealander...we want it back."

Scott Robertson, the All Black No8, who was outstanding in Christchurch, empha sised how he was feeling the whole weight of a country on his shoulders.

"The expectations back at home are high," Robertson said. "It is our national sport, and the All Blacks are the top team in the country. So the pressure comes with the territory. I haven't had the chance to hold the cup, so it would be great to take it back and be part of history."

Robertson was then asked whether he had noticed that the generally high criticism from the New Zealand public towards the All Black team had softened somewhat this year. Robertson looked stunned, before replying: "What paper are you reading, mate?"

Australia are favourites to win the Test, with home advantage and the unpredictability of its backline giving them a slight edge in the most evenly balanced of international encounters.

The Australian coach Eddie Jones admitted his deepest concern about the cup decider was trying to match the All Blacks' consistency.

"The more the All Blacks play, the more they look like the Crusaders," Jones said yesterday.

Australia: Latham; Tune, Burke, Herbert, Mortlock; Larkham, Gregan (capt); Young, Paul, Noriega, Harrison, Sharpe, Finegan, Smith, Kefu. Replacements : Cannon, Darwin, Cockbain, Lyons, Whitaker, Flatley, Rogers.

New Zealand: Cullen; Howlett, Umaga, Mauger, Ralph; Mehrtens, Marshall; Hewett, Willis, Somerville, Jack, Maling, Thorne (capt), McCaw, Robertson. Replacements: Hore, McDonnell, Holah, Broomhall, Kelleher, Gibson, MacDonald.

Referee: A Watson (South Africa).

TV: Sky Sports 1, kick-off 10.05am