The honeymoon period is over for Robbie Deans as he confronts the greatest challenge of his Wallabies coaching career on Saturday - a Test match outside Australia.

In arguably the most damning statistic in world rugby, the Wallabies have lost a record 14 straight Tests away from home against Tri-Nations rivals New Zealand and South Africa over the past six years.

In fact, since the glory days of 2001 when Australia simultaneously held the World Cup, Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations trophy and beat the British Lions, the Wallabies have proven road kill for their four major international foes, winning a measly two of 24 Tests against the All Blacks, Springboks, France and England.

Aside from losing their last eight Tests in South Africa, Australia haven't won in New Zealand since breaking a century-old losing streak at Dunedin's so-called House of Pain in 2001.

And they haven't won at Auckland's Eden Park - the venue for this weekend's Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations bout with the All Blacks - since 1986, rendering the Wallabies' perfect five-from-five start under Deans on home soil as virtually irrelevant this weekend.

The New Zealand-born Deans tried to downplay the Wallabies' galling away record before flying out of Sydney airport ahead of his eagerly-awaited first Test in charge of the Wallabies in his native homeland.

"I'm not concerned about what's been before," the supercoach bristled.

"We've got a group of blokes there that are very excited about what's ahead of them and looking to make the most of it.

"To win a Tri-Nations match, it doesn't matter where it is. It's significant and we've got one coming up and we're looking forward to it."

The Wallabies' away record is as puzzling as it alarming.

Not since the John Eales golden era has a Wallabies captain won a Tri-Nations Test outside Australia, a shocking record for a country that has won two Rugby World Cups.

And yet during the same period since 2001, the Wallabies have lost only six of their 29 home Tests against their Big Four rivals - and just one against South Africa.

The resurgent Wallabies have the opportunity to not only extend their lead at the top of the Tri-Nations table with a rare victory in New Zealand, but also leapfrog the All Blacks into second position in the world rankings behind the Springboks.

But they must overcome their travelling woes and counter a desperate All Blacks outfit striving to avoid their first hat-trick of Test defeats in a decade.

The embattled All Blacks are not only reeling from successive losses to South Africa and Australia, but are now also struggling to field recognised Test combinations after being ravaged by injury.

Deans expressed surprise upon learning New Zealand coaching counterpart Graham Henry had named Richard Kahui on the right wing after Leon MacDonald's concussion issues forced him to withdraw from the starting XV on Wednesday.

Kahui, who normally plays in the centres, has been promoted from the bench, with Mils Muliaina, initially named on the wing, reverting to fullback.

A decision on who will start at halfback and hooker remains unresolved, with Jimmy Cowan, Piri Weepu and Andy Ellis all contenders for the No.9 jersey.

And first-choice hooker Andrew Hore, who sustained a hip injury in New Zealand's 34-19 loss to Australia last Saturday in Sydney, remains in doubt, with Keven Mealamu on standby.

But just as skipper Stirling Mortlock returns for the Wallabies, All Blacks captain Richie McCaw will make his comeback from more than a month out with an ankle injury.

Veteran lock Nathan Sharpe says the Wallabies must beware the wounded All Blacks.

"When a team gets a lot of criticism for a couple of weekends in a row, they tend to come back at you," Sharpe said.

"So there's going to be a few kitchen sinks flying around Saturday night, I'd say."

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