KEY POINTS:
Channelling emotion will be a massive component in the outcome of the All Blacks test tomorrow against Scotland in Edinburgh.
There will be lorryloads of enthusiasm from both teams with the locals sensing they may be on the cusp of a new awakening while the All Blacks have injected a layer of youthful talent into their side for the opening to their latest Grand Slam attempt.
Players will be twitchy, anxiety will be high in both camps as Scotland look to raise their game towards the demands of new coaching concepts detailed by ex-All Black Mike Brewer while some tyro All Blacks and others on the comeback trail like Joe Rokocoko seek their international levels.
Scotland were the final scalp on the last 2005 Grand Slam, beaten 29-10 by an All Black side which was confident enough to choose a large chunk of their alternate squad. A year ago the locals were wiped 40-0 in the World Cup by the All Blacks when they saved many of their senior players for later action.
This season they have to beat either the All Blacks or Springboks to escape their world ranking of ninth and perhaps, earn a more favourable draw for the 2011 tournament in New Zealand.
There were murmurs they might protect some players from the All Blacks because they fancied their chances more against the Boks but the coaching staff reasoned against starting with that sort of defeatish mentality.
They have talked a tough game so far though that message has not persuaded spectators to part with their dosh in the hope that Scotland can at last, overturn an entire international rugby history which shows no victories against the All Blacks. There were more than 15,000 seats still available late in the week at Murrayfield.
So is this just going to be another entry in the All Blacks success column, another chapter in Scotland's hearty hope before a test which ultimately ends in defeat? Probably, although there are enough new components in the All Blacks which may not fully mesh for this test.
They have Richie McCaw and Daniel Carter hovering in case there are tremors but coach Graham Henry would be hoping the new XV could get the bulk of the job done.
Five-eighths Stephen Donald gets another chance to start after enduring a rough opening in Hong Kong where his forwards did little to give him quick, quality possession. While his confidence was dented when he was hauled off early in the second spell, Donald was quickly back into gear when told he would be backing up again at Murrayfield.
"I felt I was solid but didn't do anything else," Donald said matter of factly about Hong Kong. "I may have played a little bit within myself, I dunno, but getting another chance is a good thing. Dan's not holding my hand but I have got a big boy [Ma'a Nonu] outside me and I am sure he will look after me."
Like Hong Kong, if the All Black pack does not create the rhythm and momentum in this test with their flow of possession then players like Piri Weepu and Donald will not be able to apply any of their tactical aggression on to the Scots.
There is optimism about Scotland's attack but it would have to go some to better Weepu, Donald, Nonu, Richard Kahui, Rokocoko, Anthony Tuitavake and Isaia Toeava. That could occur if their pack starts strongly, holds their scrum and delivers on the accurate and structured demands of phase play.
So once again it comes back to the imprint the All Black pack can make, whether they can collar the first test emotions for Jamie Mackintosh, Liam Messam and Kieran Read, claim set pieces without too many tremors and wheel into some close-contact interpassing which could split the Scots in tough conditions. This alternate All Blacks XV has been working away for several weeks, goading each other, soothing, encouraging each other to make the initial 2008 Grand Slam statement. That time is now.
