Wallabies captain George Smith is adamant Australia are finally ready to deliver an 80-minute performance against the All Blacks in Wellington this weekend.

The backrower is the only member of the 23-man Australian squad for the match to have ever played in a winning side against the All Blacks in New Zealand.

That victory came in Smith's first encounter with the men in black in Dunedin a distant eight years ago, when Australia won 23-15.

Since then it has been an unmitigated tale of woe with the Wallabies losing their last nine games across the Tasman.

Smith, who will earn his 105th cap in the Tri-Nations series wooden spoon clash on Saturday, acknowledged the dearth of success in New Zealand, but said he was focusing on moving on rather than dwelling on past defeats.

"History is meant to be broken, the boys haven't spoken about that (losing record) at all," said Smith at Sydney Airport on Wednesday morning.

"Winning that game in 2001 against the All Blacks in Dunedin, it was a great win. Matt Burke scored a fantastic try and we retained the Bledisloe Cup and won that match.

"But my focus is definitely on this game rather than what's happened in the past."

Australia have come frustratingly close to ending their current five-match losing streak against New Zealand, leading the All Blacks in each of their last four Tests, before getting run down in each.

"The best teams sustain that pressure throughout the match and continue to not allow the opposition team to have any leeway in the way they perform," Smith said.

"That's still the mind frame the boys are going into the game (with), making sure they do sustain the pressure on the All Blacks."

Smith anticipated another titanic breakdown battle after New Zealand finally revealed their side for the game.

The team had five changes to the side which started the 32-29 loss to South Africa in Hamilton last Saturday.

Cory Jane was named on the right wing with Joe Rokocoko moving to the left for the injured Sitiveni Sivivatu, while inside centre Stephen Donald was dropped with Ma'a Nonu shifting in one place to that position and Isaia Toeava chosen at outside centre.

The pack contained the other three changes, with new cap Tom Donnelly replacing youngster Isaac Ross at lock and prop Neemia Tialata and flanker Adam Thomson replacing Owen Franks and Jerome Kaino respectively.

Smith dismissed any suggestion Saturday's game would be a dead rubber, with both the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup out of Australia's reach for this year.

"It means a lot. These games against New Zealand aren't taken lightly and this game we don't want to lose.

Both Smith and Wallabies coach Robbie Deans expected Australia to face a New Zealand team fired up by plenty of criticism following their fourth loss in eight Tests this year.

"Without a doubt it will draw a response," Deans said. "The fact it's their last outing of the Tri-Nations and it's at home, we are expecting the best from them, but we are really concentrating on bringing our best."

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