Returning All Blacks captain Kieran Read is back and ready to lead his country once more against the Wallabies in Sydney in what will be his first international test in nine months.
Read underwent major back surgery at the end of last year following the All Blacks' end-of-year tour to the northern hemisphere.
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The surgery meant he missed the June test series against France and the majority of the Super Rugby season, but he has slowly been working his way back to full fitness and made his official return last month with the Crusaders.
His last test for New Zealand was against Scotland on November 19.
The 32-year-old admitted that he didn't expect to be so quick, but he is excited to lead his country in what will be his 110th test for the All Blacks.
"I can't wait to get back on the field with the boys," he said at the team's captains run.
"I always had confidence I'd be back. Probably early on I didn't think it would be this quick, so I'm really happy to be here - to play the back end of Super Rugby, and a test match, is awesome."
Along with Read's return, the All Blacks also welcome back lock Brodie Retallick, who hasn't played for New Zealand since their 57-0 drubbing of the Springboks in September last year.
He has missed the last 11 months of international rugby due to personal reasons and injury.
Together, the duo have a combined 177 test caps between them.
"Experience does count for a lot in terms of tight situations, so that's what we've got to use to our advantage," Read said.
"What we can't do is just rest on the likes of me or Brodie coming back in and think it's just going to happen for us.
"We've got to work hard right from the outset across the board, and we've got to go out and try and find our rhythm as quickly as we can."
Read expects a tough and physical encounter against a determined and desperate Wallabies side, who are looking to lift the Bledisloe Cup for the first time in 16 years.
"This is a big game. It's been spoken of highly in terms of the clash it's going to be, and we respect what they're building towards.
"We know it's going to be a hell of a game and I can't wait to get out there [on Saturday night].
"We know they're building a team that's hungry. They've had a slightly different preparation to what they've had in the past.
"If we turn up with a performance that we're proud of and we respect the opposition in how we prepare we should be okay."
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