The Wallabies will be braced for the closest and toughest Tri-Nations in the 14-year history of the southern hemisphere competition.

Coach Robbie Deans, plotting to return the Tri-Nations Trophy to Australia for the first time since 2001, predicted the 2009 edition would be the most competitive ever.

In his second season in charge, the Wallabies mentor said South Africa would be in top shape to challenge the All Blacks dominance.

New Zealand have won the past four Tri-Nations and are ranked No.1 in the world but Deans believes the Springboks finished 2008 as the most powerful team following superb performances in thumping Australia 53-8 in Johannesburg and England 42-6 at Twickenham.

He said the 2007 World Cup winners would also be perfectly primed following a three-Test series at home against the British and Irish Lions.

"South Africa are the world champions and they showed in those two performances why, but they also probably suffered a bit of a hangover from the (2007) World Cup, which is not uncommon," he said on Wednesday.

"But I fully anticipate they'll shake that off this year with the Lions series. That just captures the interest of players because it comes around so seldom so that will really focus and hone them.

"So I think this will be the most competitive Tri-Nations that we've ever witnessed.

"While the South Africans are the world champions and produced two of the best performances last year the reality is the All Blacks are the best performed team, hence they have all the silverware."

Australia, ranked No.3 in the rankings behind NZ and South Africa, played off for last year's Tri-Nations title in the final match in Brisbane but gave up a halftime lead before falling 28-24 to the All Blacks.

Deans is particularly keen to turn around the Wallabies' inability to close out tight Tests, also fading against NZ in the fourth 2008 Bledisloe Test in Hong Kong.

Going into the international season, starting with a match against the Barbarians in Sydney on June 6, the Wallabies' other main headaches are how best to fill the No.9 and 15 jerseys.

Incumbent halfback Luke Burgess has struggled to develop his passing game and spent time on the bench for the NSW Waratahs, putting Josh Valentine in position to continue his association with Western Force playmaker Matt Giteau.

Fullback is more open with no contender appearing to have the full package for the role.

Deans' job of picking the right man has been made more difficult with contenders Adam Ashley-Cooper, Cameron Shepherd, James O'Connor, Lachie Turner and Drew Mitchell playing in other positions for much of the Super 14.

"It would be great to have someone make it their own but it's not as though we're without choice," he said.

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