Star centre Samu Kerevi insists he's carrying no trans-Tasman baggage as the Wallabies prepare for the seemingly insurmountable task of beating the All Blacks.
The Australians are hosting New Zealand at the MCG on Saturday night in their final Test on home soil before the World Cup in France.
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Another prized trophy is at stake, with the Wallabies needing victory in Melbourne and also in Dunedin next month to win the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002.
Kerevi has experienced his share of losses to the powerhouse Kiwis but since shifting his career to Japan in 2020 says he doesn't feel any "weight" going into an All Blacks clash.
The bulk of the Wallabies battle the dominant New Zealand teams through Super Rugby Pacific, while Kerevi counts key All Blacks Beauden Barrett and Damien McKenzie among his Suntory Sungoliath teammates.
"I have the advantage of the mentality I take into the game," 29-year-old Kerevi said.
"I play overseas in Japan and the last couple of years I've come in, I have no weight on my shoulders.
"The boys have played them (New Zealand players) but I come in fresh just wanting the opportunity to play against world class players.
"I haven't lost against them or won against them throughout the first six, seven months and then I come here it's a fresh start for me every time I play so that's the advantage of playing overseas."
Kerevi said he enjoyed an insight into Barrett, who will likely start at fullback, and playmaker McKenzie.
"Training with Beaudie and D-Mac I understand the way they want to play the game," he said.
"Obviously when they step into that black jersey there's systems they have but I understand and know what they like and dislike, just about footy and life."
Still working his way back to peak form after last year's ACL injury, Kerevi will have a new centre partner on Saturday night after Len Ikitau fractured a scapula in their loss to Argentina.
Izaia Perese appears favourite although coach Eddie Jones could throw up a left-field choice like Jordan Petaia, who started there in their losing 2019 World Cup quarter-final against England.
Andrew Kellaway is the frontrunner to start at fullback after Tom Wright was dumped from the squad, also able to fill in at 13 after spending time there with the Rebels last year.
"We've been chopping and changing our 12 and 13s, getting different combinations in and it's been great for our growth," Kerevi said.
"Everyone is pushing pretty hard for those positions.
"For myself La (Lalakai) Foketi has been training really well at 12 so the competitive nature drives the standard of the team.
"We're pushing each other to be better ... we trust each other that whoever gets picked will do the job and we will support them."
