All signs point to a Kangaroo victory at Hunter Stadium in Newcastle although similar messages have accompanied the last three tests between the trans-Tasman rivals.
The Kiwis won all three. Those results have sent painful lingering messages through the Kangaroos.
"They have a great forward pack, that's their strength and it probably always has been," Aussie prop Paul Gallen said.
"In the last three tests, we've seen they have taken us through the middle and made plenty of yards and probably restricted the yards that we have made so it's a big challenge for me, Matt Scott and Corey Parker in the middle field to get us on a roll."
It feels like the All Blacks, Breakers and rowers regularly rattle the Aussies ribs, the Kiwis and NZ cricket sometimes while other codes struggle.
How do the Kiwis go about plotting victory tomorrow? They have all the forward power to match the Kangaroo forwards and need to attack their strength.
Somehow they must isolate Johnathan Thurston to take the sting out of his legs and plant some uncertainty in his match authority.
Find him on the park, run the ball at him and force him into repeat tackles.
When he has possession, use a compressed defensive line to chop Thurston's time and options.
Ruffle him, muscle him, clock him late, put him on edge and attack referee Sutton's sole control.
It is a hell of a mission because Thurston is one of those special players who has the resilience to cope with most things and has shown that consistently in later years with North Queensland and the Kangaroos.
The Kiwis are up against it but who expected they would beat the Kangaroos 30-12, 22-18 and 26-12 in their last three clashes?
