Beating the All Blacks is tricky, and they will need to be as resourceful as Peter, Janet, Jack, Colin, George, Pam, Barbara and Scamper the dog in achieving the Secret Seven.

1 Take advantage of Richie McCaw not being there. The pendulum has been swinging wildly this week. When Wallabies skipper Stirling Mortlock was forced out on Tuesday, the All Blacks suddenly looked firm favourites. But that all changed the following day when the All Blacks captain was again sidelined. McCaw's unavailability is the best news the Wallabies could hope for. With McCaw there, the Wallabies were no chance of dominating the breakdown. Daniel Braid is competent, but he is no McCaw, and the Wallabies, as they did against the Springboks, should now be able to cause trouble at the breakdown. The Australian back row of George Smith, Rocky Elsom and Wycliff Palu were outstanding against the Springboks, and if they can be as industrious again tonight, suddenly the pressure will be applied on All Blacks playmakers, in particular a certain person in the No.10 jersey.

2 Get Carter. No, not the 1971 movie where Michael Caine goes up to Newcastle Brown Ale territory to sort out a bit of 'bovver', but a campaign to keep the world's best player Daniel Carter in his place. It will be a subtle manoeuvre, because if the Wallabies focus entirely on Carter, they will be exposed elsewhere. Robbie Deans knows that, explaining this week that the way to nullify Carter is "by stifling those around him". "He is of such class, he has a great awareness of what's going on around him and if you pay less attention to someone else, he will find them. It's a team thing. It's not a matter of designating an individual to him." Deans also knows that Carter can win this Test by himself. So the trick is cutting the bloodstream by shutting down those around him. Easier said than done.

3 Keep the All Blacks thinking that they are sneaky scrummagers. What's going on this week? Usually New Zealand spends Bledisloe Cup week devising nasty 'behind the school toilet'-type gags that take the mickey out of the Wallabies' front row. But it has been a bit different this week. They have instead gone on the offensive, even insinuating that the Wallabies cheat in the scrum. We haven't heard anything as crazy as this since Bill Young used to brilliantly re-enact Andes Mountain landslides at set-piece time. Didn't the Kiwis love that masquerade. But it did get a bit desperate when All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen suggested that Luke Burgess was unfairly feeding the scrum with the best leggies since Warney and offies since Mo Matthews. Then again, these are desperate times for the All Blacks.

4 Get the most out of their lineout supremacy. The All Blacks have grown used to finishing second-best in this area against the Wallabies, and that is likely to continue tonight. The most important Wallabies selection is on the bench, with Dan Vickerman waiting to come in and take over. Don't be surprised if Vickerman is brought on during the first half, because he is one forward the All Blacks really respect, such is his ability to win his own ball and be so destructive on opposition throws. Until then Nathan Sharpe and James Horwill will do the job, with Elsom used as an alternative jumper.

5 The Farr-Jones factor works. The service of Wallabies halfback Burgess will be crucial. His talents are clearly obvious, but some of his passes have been short of the mark, especially in the first half of last week's Perth Test. As Dave Brockhoff would say: "Harbour Bridge stuff." Wallabies 1991 World Cup-winning skipper Nick Farr-Jones has come to the rescue and spent time with Burgess this week, talking about strategy and technique. We're not certain what was said, and it may have involved a Farr-Jones promise of lunch ('my shout') at the legendary Nippon Club in Macquarie Street if Burgess fires against the All Blacks. That would be a big enough lure, and Burgess could not have a better mentor.

6 Stay calm if they cannot secure possession. The Wallabies have grown accustomed to living off scraps. It improved during the second half of the Springboks Test, but against Ireland and France they struggled to get anything more than 40 per cent possession. At training this week it was clear that they are preparing for long moments when they become tackling machines. They spent an inordinate amount of time having the dirt-trackers running at them, ensuring that their defensive strategies all over the ground are up to standard. They should be, and Farr-Jones is correct in describing the Wallabies as the best defensive team in the world.

7 Ryan Cross succeeds where X marks the spot. It's not often that both skippers are ruled out in Test week. In the scale of importance, the loss of McCaw will hit the All Blacks harder than the loss of Mortlock to the Wallabies. It's because the difference in quality between Braid and McCaw is considerably more than between Cross and Mortlock. However, this does not mean Cross will enjoy an easy ride tonight. In past trans-Tasman Tests, Mortlock has often been the difference, including in Melbourne last year, when he won the man-of-the-match award and the 2003 World Cup, when a certain intercept pass led to another premature All Blacks departure. The All Blacks have been unable to properly nullify Mortlock's bustling skills and his ability to break through their defence. Cross is different. Instead, the league convert knows how to find and reveal a defensive hole. But that could be difficult to find tonight, as the All Blacks are awake to that one. The Test could hinge on what occurs around Cross tonight.

Prediction Wallabies by 4. The rugby bet of the year is heading to the bookies tent and taking the Wallabies 1-12 at $3.25. Then you may just be able to afford the nosebleed seats at ANZ Stadium at the next Bledisloe Cup fixture in Sydney. Just pray the North Shore trains are running for a change.