Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has backed former NRL star Ryan Cross to fill the boots of skipper Stirling Mortlock in Saturday night's blockbuster clash with the All Blacks.
Cross will make his run-on debut at outside centre after Mortlock, who suffered a heavy head knock during last weekend's victory over the Springboks, was ruled unfit to take his place in the side.
But while he empathised with the wounded leader, a resolute Deans has no doubt the former Rooster is up to the occasion.
"I think Ryan's shown you what a good footballer he is, he's going to be very excited about the opportunity he's got," Deans said on Wednesday.
"I don't know that we'll miss a lot, he's got a good background now, he's been preparing for us for close to two months so he's well versed and he's perfectly able."
"It's never about individuals in these competitions it's about how we bring collectively what we've got to the table."
Cross, who has excelled in each of his three appearances off the Wallabies' bench since making his debut against France last month, labelled Saturday's match the biggest of his career in either code.
"I didn't really see it coming," Cross admitted.
"I thought Stirling might pull through but when I got the news yesterday I was more amazed than anything. It is a big thrill to play against the All Blacks."
Cross' elevation into the run-on side has opened the door for fellow NRL convert Timana Tahu to be fast-tracked onto the Wallabies bench.
The former Kangaroos' transition to the 15-man-game was hampered by injury limiting him to a handful of appearances for the Waratahs, but a strong campaign with Australia A was enough to convince Deans Tahu is ready.
"He's a quality athlete and a quality rugby player, the skill sets aren't dissimilar and you'd find even between codes, these blokes could turn their hands to most codes, that's the way it is," Deans said.
"It (his transition) was obviously made more challenging because Timana had some injuries which didn't permit him to get a background through Super rugby but he's shown when he has got some continuity on the playing field he's really thrived."
A typically understated Tahu said of his inclusion in the Wallabies' match-day 22: "I'm jumping up and down inside but I've got a job to do and I've got to think about the team on what happens on Saturday night but I think after that I can relax and enjoy the moment."