"It starts in the middle with the big boys and we just have to hold on to the ball and complete our sets and go toe to toe with them.
"If we do that we'll put them under a lot of pressure and be very competitive."
Fiery front-rower Waerea-Hargreaves is certainly not lacking in personal motivation after being recalled for his first test in three years.
The 27-year-old found himself on the outer after a run of underwhelming performances against Australia and throughout the 2013 World Cup which culminated in the Kiwis embarrassing 34-2 tournament final loss to the Kangaroos at Old Trafford.
The Sydney Roosters enforcer has since overcome an ACL injury to perform strongly through the latter part of the NRL season and won back his test starting spot ahead of former Kiwis co-captain Adam Blair who is on the interchange bench.
"He's very pumped," said club teammate Kenny-Dowall. "He's had a few years out and he set himself this goal a long time ago to get into this squad and he's worked really hard and overcome a massive injury.
"He really started to play some good football towards the end of the year and he's jumping out of his skin."
A renowned big personality, Waerea-Hargreaves returns to the side more experienced and with greater maturity, having become a father last year to young daughter Zahli Rae.
"Jared has sort of reminded me of myself," said new Kiwis coach David Kidwell. "I was out of the jersey for a couple of years and got an opportunity to take it again.
"You mature with age and you just look at things a bit differently, you've got kids, so he's been really great for the team.
"I didn't want him to change as a person but he's said himself he's matured and really looking forward to Saturday.
"He's excited and really looking forward to wearing that black jersey again."
The loss of former captain Simon Mannering, who is recovering from minor knee surgery, cannot be understated. The Kiwis have managed just one win in their last four tests without the 30-year-old back-rower, with illness and injury preventing him from playing in last year's two-one series loss to England and the most recent Anzac encounter.
In his absence, Kenny-Dowall has no doubts that Melbourne back-rowers Kevin Proctor and Tohu Harris will step up and provide defensive security on either side of the ruck.
"Those Melbourne boys are based on defence and they're great wrestlers and I'm sure they'll be looking to work the ground against a big Australian forward pack as well."
Perth's large Kiwi-expat community have already made an impression on the New Zealand side and Kenny-Dowall hopes they will turn out in large numbers for what is an historic first test in the Western Australian capital.
"We've only been here a few days but there's plenty of Kiwis over here and it's close to a sell-out.
"Hopefully it's the majority of the Kiwi crew in Perth out here on Saturday night giving the Aussie's hell."
