New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney says the Kiwis need to maintain the rage for the entire 80 minutes in Friday night's trans-Tasman Test against Australia.

Otherwise they risk yet another mid-year catastrophe which could ultimately threaten the future of the annual fixture.

Not since the inaugural clash in 1998 when the Kiwis prevailed 26-12 at North Harbour Stadium in Albany have they emerged victorious in the May encounter, their current losing streak at 10 matches in a run that has officials fearing for the concept.

Just as State of Origin relied for so many years on underdog Queensland sides upsetting their more fancied NSW opponents, New Zealand need to prove they can mix it with the all-powerful Kangaroos or risk the match losing its appeal to fans.

While the Kiwis haven't been within 16 points of the Australians in mid-year matches since the turn of the century, Kearney said the signs were there that they were not far away.

But he also admitted close enough was not nearly good enough.

"In 2008 they jumped out to a three-try lead and we clawed our way back into the contest after that and last year was a real close contest - they scored just before and just after halftime and that really knocked the stuffing out of us," Kearney said.

"What that tells me is we've got to play for the full 80 minutes, you just can't clock off against such good side."

The Kiwis found that out the hard way in the last meeting between the two sides during last year's Four Nations tournament in London.

The better team for most of the night, New Zealand gave up a try in the final three minutes which allowed the Australians to snatch a 20-all draw, the result ultimately costing the World Cup winners a place in the final.

It continued a strong set of results for the Kiwis in end-of-season matches, though Kearney denied his side was better placed to beat Australia in October than it was to cause an upset in May.

"Every time we play Australia it's tough - whether it's one week's preparation or four weeks preparation, I don't think it matters," Kearney said.

"It's the toughest contest for us in the game."

Kearney believes he has made key changes to his side's preparation to ensure it was better equipped.

Not least of these is his decision to ignore Super League-based players who have struggled to make an impact after flying in for the game in previous years.

New Zealand did their best to belt Australia into submission at The Stoop last October, and Australian coach Tim Sheens said he wasn't expecting anything different on Friday night.

There is little doubt the Kiwis will again look to Jared Waerea-Hargreaves - who launched a one man assault on anything wearing a green and gold jumper in London - Frank Paul Nuuausala, Adam Blair and Sika Manu to do a job on the Kangaroos' engine room.

"I know that they're going to come out at 100 miles an hour, they've done it every time they've played Australia," Sheens said.

"I've never seen a Kiwis-Australia Test where it doesn't happen."

Sheens refused to rule out promoting either debutant Michael Weyman or Manly prop Josh Perry to his run-on side to help counter the early onslaught, while Kearney has given little away as to the formation he will send out to start the game.

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