Wallabies coach Eddie Jones' confidence isn't flagging as his struggling side prepare to face the All Blacks - far from it.
After replacing Dave Rennie at the start of 2023, Jones' Wallabies have struggled in their Rugby Championship campaign.
Australia opened the Rugby Championship with a 43-12 hammering from a second-string Springboks side that had sent their best players to New Zealand a week early.
Then, after taking a 31-27 advantage over Argentina in Sydney on Saturday night, the Wallabies snatched defeat from the jaws of victory to fall to a 34-31 loss.
On Saturday night, Jones quipped he'd "look out" if he was the All Blacks, with his next encounter being against Ian Foster's side at Melbourne's MCG on July 29, before returning for a reverse fixture in Dunedin a week later.
And if dangling the carrot once wasn't enough, Jones fired another shot at the All Blacks - who have opened their year with impressive wins over Argentina and South Africa.
"I quite fancy ourselves against New Zealand," said Jones. "They haven't been put under any pressure yet.
"I think we've got the ability to put them under some pressure."
Admittedly, Jones acknowledges Australia's form hasn't been up to standard - especially given 2023 is a Rugby World Cup year.
But with Australia having not beaten the All Blacks since November 2020, Jones is happy to play the underdogs as they prepare for back-to-back fixtures against their trans-Tasman foes.
"I don't think we've got any right to be confident," he added. "But what we can do is prepare really well, get out of the blocks [and] put them under pressure - which we will do.
"I like coaching against New Zealand, it's the highlight of the year. Have a look at their two performances this year. The spinnaker's out, they're flying a lot.
"I'm not worried about them. I've got enough to worry about, without worrying about New Zealand."
