Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is playing down the absence of the respective Australian and New Zealand captains from Saturday night's Bledisloe Cup blockbuster in Sydney.
Perhaps because the Wallabies suspect the All Blacks will miss influential flanker Richie McCaw more than Australia will suffer without powerhouse centre Stirling Mortlock - and Deans knows it would be foolish to say so.
McCaw was ruled unfit to make his comeback from a month out with a ankle ligament damage - handing a Test recall for Daniel Braid after almost five years in the international wilderness - but denying the All Blacks the services of a player with the best strike rate in New Zealand's Test rugby history.
Of all the 73 All Blacks to have played 25 Tests or more, McCaw has the highest winning percentage, having been victorious in 55 of his 62 Tests.
That gives him an 88.7 percent winning record, just pipping former flanker Alan Whetton, who won 31 of his 35 Tests for an 88.6 per cent strike rate.
McCaw has been absent from a handful of All Blacks defeats in recent years, including the 30-28 Tri-Nations loss to South Africa in Dunedin on July 12, a Test in which his trademark aggression and leadership were sorely missed.
"It's not good for Richie, obviously. But he's a bit like Stirling to that end - he'll be back," Deans said of his good friend and former captain at the Crusaders.
"They're both inspirational blokes, but I don't think it will reduce the intensity of the fixture at all."
With Mortlock ruled out following a head knock sustained in the Australia's 16-9 win over the Springboks in Perth last Saturday, Deans opted to promote Western Force's player of the year Ryan Cross for his first Wallabies start and elevate New Zealand reject Timana Tahu to a place on the bench.
Deans said he had no doubt Cross was ready to deputise for Mortlock at outside centre.
"They're both pretty direct, they've both got a presence and they're both good defenders," he said.
"So they're not that dissimilar."
Deans refused to bite when told of claims from All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen that Wallabies halfback Luke Burgess illegally spun the ball into the scrum to deliver quick, easy possession during their win over South Africa.
"I think we're very consistent in what we do," Deans said after a long pause.
"All you seek is consistency in the game. And if we get that, we'll have a good contest. Both sides are pretty similar to that end.
Deans did not think South African referee Craig Joubert would have his hands full dealing with illegal play and doubted he would take notice of any pre-match mind games.
"You'd hope they don't influence referees, certainly (not) international referees."
