OPINION: Take Argentina lightly at your peril.
Coach Ian Foster and the All Blacks know all too well what can happen, if the South Americans find themselves with their tails up.
All Black memories will no doubt flash back to last year's Christchurch encounter and their historic defeat to the Pumas, rather than the following week in Hamilton, where they turned the tide exceptionally and wiped them off FMG Stadium within minutes.
This is a World Cup year and with six uncapped players itching to stake their claim at Mendoza this weekend, Foster must strike a balance between fielding a team that's experienced, one that's capable of starting the All Blacks' Rugby Championship campaign on the right note and handing opportunities to uncapped players.
Foster doesn't have long to find out whether those six players who shone in Super Rugby can do the same at test level. Will Shaun Stevenson be the potent attacking threat he was for the Chiefs?
Does Samipeni Finau offer the commanding physical presence missing from the All Blacks No.6 jersey?
Will Cam Roigard's effective box-kick and enhanced running game offer them a point of difference at test level?
Foster will largely play things safe against Argentina. With Rugby Championship points on offer, he has made no secret of his desire to head to France with that trophy locked away.
A front row that worked wonders last year should get the same opportunity this year, despite Codie Taylor returning to his best form. With Sam Whitelock likely unavailable, Brodie Retallick and Scott Barrett are the obvious choices at lock.
That also means a loose forward trio of Shannon Frizell, Sam Cane and Ardie Savea looms as the most likely, despite Luke Jacobson proving his game can be perfectly suited to fill a bruising role at blindside.
Aaron Smith and Richie Mo'unga are two of the first names on the team sheet, Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane are just as simple to pick outside them, but the back three provide plenty of debate. Again, expect an element of safety.
Chiefs flier Emoni Narawa is in line to make his test debut on the right wing, with Caleb Clarke on the left. That means Foster is unlikely to gamble on inexperience at the back, so expect Beauden Barrett to get the nod at fullback.
It's a big call, because Stevenson has been the form fullback in Super Rugby and Sunday morning's test shapes as the perfect opportunity to throw him into the mix in a black jersey. He absolutely needs to be tested and should land a bench role at Mendoza.
Damian McKenzie is in an intriguing position. Although he clearly showed his class at first-five throughout Super Rugby, he's still probably not seen as the answer there at test level.
Impact and the No. 23 jersey look to be where he's used for the All Blacks, and this week, I see him out there running water.
Speaking of the bench, this is where I think we'll see the opportunities for those uncapped players. Tamaiti Williams has proven he's more than ready to make the step up to test rugby, Roigard is the second-best halfback in the country and it feels like a case of if not now, then when for Stevenson.
Likely All Blacks squad v Argentina:
1-Ethan de Groot, 2-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Scott Barrett, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-Sam Cane (capt), 8-Ardie Savea, 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-Caleb Clarke, 12-Jordie Barrett, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Beauden Barrett
Reserves: 16-Codie Taylor, 17-Tamaiti Williams, 18-Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 19-Tupou Vaa'i, 20-Luke Jacobson, 21-Cam Roigard, 22-Braydon Ennor, 23-Shaun Stevenson
Ollie Ritchie is Newshub's rugby reporter. Join Newshub at 7am Sunday for live updates of the All Blacks v Argentina Rugby Championship
