Publicly the jury is still out on who should fill Daniel Carter's boots, but the judges have made their decision on who will occupy the All Blacks' playmaking role in Saturday's Tri-Nations rugby Test against Australia.

Luke McAlister or Stephen Donald will be named at five-eighth on Wednesday for the first of four Bledisloe Cup Tests after both apparently emerged unscathed from a training run on Eden Park on Tuesday.

All Blacks management remained coy on who would don the No.10 jersey, with the practice session providing little concrete evidence on which way head coach Graham Henry may go.

Assistant coach Wayne Smith confessed the decision had already been made before extolling the virtues of two players who struggled during last month's tests against France and Italy.

McAlister, who ended the session with a bandaged head after attempting to tackle his rival, again appeared to spend the bulk of the time in charge of the test backline, although Donald also pulled the strings at regular intervals.

Smith was simply relieved both had recovered from injury to be in contention less than a week after being in doubt, although McAlister's back and Donald's hamstring are to be monitored.

Had both been unavailable, Smith said Stephen Brett would have debuted at five-eighth and Piri Weepu would have been halfback and goalkicker.

Smith refused to state his preference for either Donald or McAlister.

"They're both good running five-eighths with good kicking games, they're both reasonably strong on defence," he said.

"They run differently, one takes it to the line (Donald), the other's an explosive stepper. They've both got good qualities and up to international standard."

While Donald's quicker than anticipated recovery from the leg muscle strain suffered during the second French Test is welcome, Smith said he had no concerns over McAlister's ability despite his mixed performance against Italy.

McAlister acknowledged his confidence was low after that Test but Smith was confident the utility, who returned to New Zealand this year after a stint in England, was in a good head space.

"He was down after Italy because he has high standards," Smith said.

"He wants to come back here and shine."

In retrospect, McAlister's rapid return to international rugby might have been counter productive given he was originally meant to mark his return with the Junior All Blacks.

When Richard Kahui was ruled out of the squad, McAlister was promoted and has subsequently struggled.

"We really wanted him to play for the Juniors but it didn't turn out that way," Smith said.

"Time under the belt for any player is important and Luke hasn't as much as we wanted but we know he's a class player."

Smith revealed Carter, who is targeting a possible return for the end-of-year tour, had been enlisted to help prepare the duo for a tough match-up against Matt Giteau.

Carter attended a training camp in Wellington last Thursday to talk through the role with his replacements.

While the five-eighth's identity remains under wraps, it is clear Joe Rokocoko's position in the starting XV has been surrendered to Cory Jane.

Cory will start on the right wing as the All Blacks brace for a kicking barrage from Giteau, Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell and Adam Ashley-Cooper.

The length of Jane's kick returns and his counter attacking capabilities see him selected ahead of an out-of-sorts Rokocoko.

"There are tactical considerations when you're playing a team like Australia," Smith said.

"Receiving kicks is now the biggest possession platform in the game - bigger than the lineouts and the scrums.

"You need players adept at taking the high ball both as a chaser and a receiver."

While Rokocoko offers explosiveness and an `X-factor', Jane's fullback skills are seen as more beneficial.

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