The Wallabies are desperate to win back the Bledisloe Cup but skipper Stirling Mortlock doesn't believe the rules should be altered to have the treasured trophy put on the line for special matches like the one being played here on Saturday night.
The All Blacks have already secured the Bledisloe for 2008, taking an unassailable 2-1 lead with their 28-24 victory in Brisbane six weeks ago.
The Hong Kong fixture was added to this year's mix, making it a four-match series.
But with this clash now essentially a "dead rubber" some wags have suggested it should be up for grabs anyway to add further spice to a match that has enormous financial benefits to the contesting and host unions.
That doesn't wash with Mortlock, a Bledisloe veteran who knows how good it feels to be the holders and how hard it is to win back. That, he says, is the way it should stay.
"I don't want to do anything to detract from the tradition of the Bledisloe Cup," he said as the Wallabies had their captain's run at the sweltering stadium on Friday.
"I think the uniqueness of it and the tradition of having been played for many, many, many years ... it's extremely hard to get that trophy back.
"I wouldn't want to see that detracted from by just having a one-off match for the trophy."
Mortlock insisted the lack of silverware on offer for the Wallabies didn't mean any lack of desire from his team.
"We are all really excited about this test match," he declared, echoing the thoughts of the All Blacks who have the luxury of knowing the Wallabies will have to try their luck again next year in what is sure to be another four-match Bledisloe Cup series with Denver tipped to be the neutral venue.
But for now it's all about Hong Kong. And just as the All Blacks were voicing some concerns about handling the stifling heat, Mortlock said there would need to be some thought given to the conditions by the players and their handlers.
The match kicks off at 4.30pm local time and it has still be noticeably hot late in the afternoon all week here. To hold it any later would negate the New Zealand and Australian TV audiences.
"It (the heat) will have ramifications, certainly later in the match. Both teams have played really expansive up-tempo matches this year and I would expect that to be the same.
"We have to make sure we can get our fluid into us. I think it's just the humidity rather than the temperatures. Whether they (the temperatures) are up or down, you just sweat.
"Utilising the full 22-man squad is going to be very, very important."
The Wallabies suffered a blow in that respect on Friday when experienced hooker Adam Freier was forced to withdraw from the reserves because of a calf strain. He has been replaced by fellow Waratah, Tatafu Polota-Nau.
Mortlock, of course, will be a key figure in this match with his leadership, potential goalkicking and his play at second five-eighths where he lines out against All Blacks star Daniel Carter.
Mortlock is no stranger to the No 12 jersey but he prefers centre, just as Carter has far more experience at first five than second five.
"I have a real challenge in front of me. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Carts and I thought he did very well in the last test match when he moved to 12. He put a lot of pressure on me," said Mortlock.
NEW ZEALAND: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Hosea Gear, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Dan Carter, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Jimmy Cowan; 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock. Reserves: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Greg Somerville, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Ma'a Nonu, 22 Cory Jane.
AUSTRALIA: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 Stirling Mortlock (c), 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Richard Brown, 7 George Smith, 6 Dean Mumm, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Mark Chisholm, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson. Reserves: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 Phil Waugh, 19 David Pocock, 20 Sam Cordingley, 21 Berrick Barnes, 22 Lachie Turner.
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland), George Clancy (Ireland)
TMO: Giulio de Santis (Italy)
