The Wallabies open their 2010 Test campaign against Fiji in Canberra on Saturday night desperately hoping to replenish their trophy cabinet with meaningful silverware.

Australia haven't won a Bledisloe Cup since 2002 or the Tri Nations since 2001 and skipper Rocky Elsom and coach Robbie Deans bristled on Friday when a reporter suggested they hadn't challenged for major spoils in the past two seasons because they were rebuilding.

"There's never a time that we haven't wanted to win those trophies," Elsom snapped.

"There's never a time that we've said that we're rebuilding this year, so we'll just have to do the best we can.

"That's always the goal for us. We always want to win those trophies, particularly those two. We're hungry."

Deans was also eager to set the record straight, intervening with: "Rebuilding has never been in our language.

"The reason for that is, when you play a Test match it only happens once and for those players who are lucky enough to have that opportunity, it lasts for 80 minutes and you've got to live with that experience for the rest of your days.

"And those who come to watch don't care how long you've been there and that's the way it should be.

So we're chasing wins."

Fiji are not expected to truly test the Wallabies, but Elsom certainly isn't treating the 2007 Rugby World Cup quarter-finalists with any disrespect.

"Fijians are always good athletes," said Elsom, who will lead Australia for the first time on home soil in his milestone 50th Test.

"They have very quick feet and are very agile and they enjoy the unstructured play more than most.

"So while they'll be a different challenge to other teams, they'll be a challenge all the same.

"If the opposition's got a player like Rupeni Caucaunibuca, you've got to be on your game."

Much home interest will centre on the performance of Australian Super 14 player of the year Quade Cooper, who will line up at five-eighth in a Test for the first time.

Deans said there'd been no visible change in the dazzling playmaker's demeanour since Cooper on Tuesday edged out Matt Giteau for the No.10 jumper.

"That's probably a refection of his growth. He's taking things in his stride now," Deans said.

"The dynamic in the backline has been good. The boys are enjoying running off him, playing outside him.

"He's earned that right through his performances in Super rugby and there's no doubt that if you wind the clock back a year, he's a very different player and bloke now than a year ago and we expect him to do well."

There is also much anticipation about the debut of classy young outside centre Rob Horne.

"Everyone's pretty excited to see how Rob Horne goes. It's like you don't see him enough. He's had various injury worries but he's definitely a talented player," Elsom said.

"You can be excited about the ability of the whole backline. All of them provide a lot of genuine spark.

"How they perform is up to them and we'll probably know more in four weeks but, potentially, it's one of the best Wallabies backlines I'll have played with."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP