The All Blacks have bracketed captain Richie McCaw and Daniel Braid on the openside flank for the Bledisloe Cup rugby Test against Australia in Sydney on Saturday.

A decision on the availability of McCaw will be made later in the week and will depend on how his injured ankle continues to recover.

He trained well on Monday and Tuesday but coach Graham Henry must decide whether to risk the 62-Test veteran two weeks ahead of his scheduled recovery date.

Either way, there will be five changes from the starting team who lost 28-30 to South Africa in Dunedin.

McCaw or Braid will replace Adam Thomson, Brad Thorn returns from suspension for lock Anthony Boric while Greg Somerville replaces tighthead prop John Afoa.

In the backs, centre Richard Kahui will play his second Test in place of Conrad Smith while winger Anthony Tuitavake replaces Rudi Wulf, shifting Sitiveni Sivivatu from the right to left wing.

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