Both coaches have vowed to 'bring it on' under the Millennium Stadium roof on Saturday, rating their respective sides as the most entertaining in world rugby.

The All Blacks, the Tri-Nations champions, open their bid for a second Grand Slam at their seventh attempt while trying to knock Wales, the Six Nations champions, off their perch at their home fortress.

Add in the 100-year anniversary of Wales' controversial 3-0 win here, and a stadium packed to the rafters with upwards of 70,000, and it could barely have been better scripted.

Even the gloomy late autumn weather shouldn't have a say.

It has rained all week in Cardiff but the retractable roof has done its job, All Blacks coach Graham Henry giving the playing surface the thumbs up.

Both sides are below full strength, the All Blacks by choice and the hosts, crucially, without five key Lions players through injury and flanker Martyn Williams due to his mother's death.

Henry, with an eye to the 2007 World Cup, has benched two of his star performers from 2005 - flanker Richie McCaw and loosehead prop Tony Woodcock - meaning the forward tussle will have some extra spice with debutants Chris Masoe and Neemia Tialata.

The forward battle is crucial as always, but it is what happens out wide which may have the biggest say.

All Blacks backs coach Wayne Smith has set the scene for a try-fest.

"We both like to use the ball and you'd expect with the talent out there, if things click, there should be some tries scored," he said.

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