Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has set the scene for a ferocious breakdown battle in Saturday's opening Tri-Nations rugby clash in Auckland, by recalling powerhouse No.8 Wycliff Palu and choosing two openside flyers on the bench.

As expected, Palu was reinstated to the starting side for the Eden Park encounter, while the Wallabies selectors again opted for openside specialist Phil Waugh and David Pocock on the bench.

Palu's inclusion has led to Richard Brown moving from No.8 to blindside flanker, with Dean Mumm moving from the latter position to the bench.

The inclusion of Waugh and Pocock, in addition to starting openside George Smith, who will earn his 100th cap on Saturday, gives Deans three speedy fetchers in his 22-man squad.

The selection of the trio would appears to be a tactic to counter the return from injury of New Zealand's legendary openside Richie McCaw, though Deans suggested there was more to it than that.

"We've got a lot of fresh, keen blokes on the bench who are more than able to step up," Deans told the media in Sydney on Tuesday.

"It's going to be physical, it will be fast."

They opted for five forwards on a bench, which will also include a potential Test debutant in Queensland halfback Will Genia.

Utility James O'Connor and Genia, who replaces Josh Valentine, are the only backs among the reserves.

"We've got great versatility through the backs, so we don't see a lot of risk," Deans said.

"It's been seamless for Will. The way he's performed at training looks like he's been there for some time."

Palu, who missed Australia's first four matches of the year with a hand injury, had no doubts he would be up to Tri-Nations pace, despite playing just two club games.

"It's a big opportunity for me and a good game to come back to, against the All Blacks. "I couldn't wish for anything more," Palu told reporters.

"Physically these All Blacks Tests are all pretty tough, but I think the mental side is going to get us over the edge and I'm definitely ready for it."

Deans said the battle between McCaw and Smith added "an element of intrigue within a contest", but wasn't interested in comparing the two champions.

He gave equally short shrift to the suggestion the All Blacks were understrength, particularly since they were regaining the services of McCaw and fellow backrow stalwart Rodney So'oialo.

"There's no such thing," Deans fired back at his questioner.

"They've got a very experienced pack. They will tell you otherwise of course.

"But they will be looking to that experience and pushing those buttons to draw a response from that experience.

"Rodney is going to be fresh, as is Richie, it will be an important area of the game."

Deans felt the Wallabies were in better shape and a better team than heading into the corresponding fixture last year where they were thrashed 39-10 by New Zealand.

"Last year we were caught on the hop to some extent in terms of the All Blacks, they'd lost two games and they were back at Eden Park and we experienced a response," Deans said.

"We went in hopeful and thought we'd prepared effectively. The ferocity of that response is exactly what we're going to experience on Saturday, the circumstances are identical in many ways."

Wallabies team:

Adam Ashley-Cooper, Lachie Turner, Stirling Mortlock (capt), Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Richard Brown, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ben Alexander, Dean Mumm, Phil Waugh, David Pocock, Will Genia, James O'Connor.

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