Robbie Deans knows a thing or two about Bledisloe Cup tests and he senses something special brewing for Saturday night with the Wallabies coach predicting "an epic" against the All Blacks in Sydney.

Having won an enthralling three-match series in Australia in 1984 as an All Blacks fullback and then having lost and won series in 2002 and 2003 as an All Blacks assistant coach, Deans is perfectly placed to run a barometer over the current situation.

Of course he does so from the other side of the fence now but that doesn't affect the way he views the enormity of trans-Tasman clashes.

Yes, his personal situation will spice things up. But according to the man himself, that's hardly needed with what's going on in the Tri Nations at the moment as one of the most even championships in recent years unfolds with all three countries in the hunt.

"I don't think you could get a better promotion for this fixture than the three games we have had to date. They have been remarkable games of rugby ... the intensity in terms of the speed," said Deans.

"It's going to be an epic like we haven't seen for some time this weekend," was his bold prediction.

Deans says the Bledisloe Cup factor will bring an added edge to what has gone on with the three matches featuring the Springboks over the past three weekends.

"It is special ... it is a very special competition," he said of the Bledisloe Cup which he had no doubt both Australia and New Zealand rated as second only to the World Cup in terms of importance to their trophy cabinets.

"You have the Tri Nations but the key piece of interest between New Zealand and Australia is the Bledisloe Cup and the meaning has just grown with every decade.

"Obviously with the recent history there have been some great contests and some dramatic moments. I have no doubt that this weekend will be similar.

"My experience as a player was that it was a contest and intensity that I had never encountered previously. The games went very fast and they were great to be involved in."

Deans said his previous coaching experience in the Bledisloe Cup had hammered home just how difficult the massive piece of silverware was to win.

"That's one thing that is very evident. It's one thing that we learnt at the time in 2002," he said of the shared series which left the Wallabies as holders. The All Blacks had won 12-6 in Christchurch but were pipped 14-16 in the Sydney rematch.

"We had an opportunity but it was just the pure bloody-mindedness (of the Wallabies) which denied that."

Deans and John Mitchell got their revenge the following season, blitzing the Wallabies by a record 50-21 in Sydney and then holding them off 21-17 at Eden Park to finally end New Zealand's Bledisloe Cup drought that dated back to 1998.

"But I think that encounter in Auckland was an indicator of what was to come and our next encounter was at the World Cup."

The All Blacks lost that fateful semifinal to the Wallabies in Sydney. But they have held the Bleidsloe Cup ever since and now Deans is charged with winning it again, this time in the green and gold. He has four tests to do it in with the 2008 series expanded to include a Hong Kong match as well.

Satisfied with beating the world champion Springboks last weekend in Perth 16-9, Deans says his team will have to go up a notch or two to have a chance against the All Blacks.

"No doubt ... no doubt," he said of requiring a lift in intensity and performance to stay on the pace of this Tri-Nations championship.

"The fact that every side has made a start and there is an opportunity for every side ... it just gets more important with each outing.

"Both sides will be looking to make the most of the opportunity this Saturday.

"It's good to have made a good start (against the Sprngboks) but that's all it was ... a good start."