The Wallabies are braced for an All Black backlash as they attempt to celebrate their 500th Test by heaping extra misery on their arch-rivals.

While New Zealand have parcelled up the Bledisloe Cup for a seventh straight year and Australia are searching for their first success on NZ soil in eight years, it's the hosts under most pressure heading into Saturday's Tri-Nations dead rubber at Westpac Stadium.

The All Blacks have won four of their eight Tests in 2009, their worst domestic season record in 11 years, and players and coaches alike have come under heavy fire since last weekend's 32-29 loss which gave them an 0-3 record against South Africa.

But Australian coach Robbie Deans stressed New Zealand were at their most dangerous when backed into a corner.

"Without a doubt," the former All Black fullback said on Friday. "They will be totally resolute, they will be desperate to get a result.

"I think the one thing you can be sure of is there will be a response from the All Blacks. As history shows, whenever they are under pressure they respond.

"And you're dealing with an experienced group here, something like eight have been here since 2003. So they're not going to be comfortable and they will want to respond."

The Wallabies' breakthrough 21-6 upset of the world champion Springboks in Brisbane has taken the heat off Deans and his rebuilding side but a sixth straight loss to NZ, dating back 13 months, would set them back again.

Deans blamed a lack of mental toughness for the second-half fadeouts in the 22-16 and 19-18 Bledisloe losses in Auckland and Sydney, respectively, but felt the Brisbane success over the Boks had lifted their self-belief.

"Obviously our history isn't that great in NZ but the thing you get with a young group is they're not burdened by the past and they're very excited," he said.

"We're hopeful that (Brisbane) would have been a fillip for them and that some of that would have galvanised into a deeper seated belief."

Both Deans and All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw, Deans' top man at the Crusaders, were singing from same hymn sheet in windy Wellington on match eve with both highlighting the pride on the line.

It's a fact the loser will leave Westpac Stadium with the tournament's wooden spoon, which both nations have taken only twice each in the 14-season history of the Tri-Nations series.

Deans and McCaw tipped a game with plenty of ball movement, especially if the forecast of a fine day proves correct.

"The point's table is not relevant," Deans said. "There's pride and honour and neither side will want to come second so I don't think either side will play conservatively."

McCaw defended the All Black coaches and praised their approach to the final Test, deflecting criticism and giving the players more responsibility in driving preparations.

"They always are (under pressure) when you've had a loss the week before," he said. "It seems to be the way in this country that they get it in the neck.

"They're not the ones that are running out on the field."

In Australia's 499 Tests, New Zealand stands as their toughest national rival with a mere 28 per cent success rate in 158 meetings.

New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Isaia Toeava, Ma'a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko, Daniel Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (capt.), Adam Thomson, Tom Donnelly, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock. Res: Aled de Malmanche, John Afoa, Jason Eaton, Rodney So'oialo, Brendon Leonard, Stephen Donald, Hosea Gear

Australia: James O'Connor, Lachie Turner, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Will Genia, George Smith (capt), David Pocock, Rocky Elsom, Mark Chisholm, James Horwill, Ben Alexander, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson. Res: Stephen Moore, Pek Cowan, Dean Mumm, Wycliff Palu, Luke Burgess, Quade Cooper, Peter Hynes.

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