The All Blacks will wear a special tribute to the late Sir Colin Meads on their jerseys tomorrow night - an extra emotional touchstone which increases the significance of the test against the Wallabies.
The tribute will be in the form of an embroidered number - the Herald understands it will be Meads' All Black number 583 - following the death of the former great in Te Kuiti last Sunday, a day after the All Blacks thrashed the Wallabies in Sydney.
Meads has always been a big part of the All Black legacy and the former lock's passing has been spoken about by the team during the week. Lock Sam Whitelock will formally present his No5 jersey to the Meads family after the match at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Steve Hansen's men will want to honour Meads' memory with a ruthless and accurate performance against the Wallabies. A victory will see them claim the Bledisloe Cup for another year - Australia last held it in 2003 - but the home side want a little more than that.
In Dane Coles' first test back following his concussion and in Ben Smith's final test before his sabbatical, the All Blacks want a complete 80-minute performance.