Wallabies keen for Eden Park

George Gregan at Wallabies training

The Qantas Wallabies are far from down and out heading into the final Tri Nations contest of the season, against the All Blacks, in Auckland on Saturday, despite the fact the Australians can't win the title.

Captain George Gregan, who will equal England prop Justin Leonard's record of 114 Test match appearances, syas an injection of youth has been key to the success.

"We've had a couple of young guys come into the team this week and enthusiasm has been right up there which has been fantastic," he said in Auckland on Friday.

With Auckland in the middle of an outstanding spell of spring weather, and parts of New Zealand suffering drought, Gregan is entitled to feel right at home in conditions that should suit the Australians.

Apart from the injuries which have depleted the experience in the side, he is preparing with a new flyhalf in Mat Rogers, and that has proved an exciting experience.

"He has trained really well, he's looking forward to this challenge," Gregan said. "He's going to get his hands on the ball a lot more playing in that particular position and he's trained really well this week."

"That attitude has been great and it is reflected in the players outside him. He's really looking forward to getting out there and playing his first Test match in that position."

Gregan said attention to detail was a key factor when dealing with a losing streak. The team had to work on the things that had let it down when closing out a game.

"Confidence is always down when you're in a bit of a losing streak," he said, "But it is important the guys concentrate on rectifying areas that have let them down."

"You're always judged on results, especially when you're a quality team."

"It's very unusual for Aussie teams to have a losing streak like this so you want to snap out of it but we've lost against quality opposition and we've probably been in positions in a number of those games to win which we haven't done and that's the area we need to fix up going in to tomorrow night," he said.

Despite the personal pressure he is under, Gregan said he is enjoying his rugby still and enjoying the preparation, a feature that has not waned this year.

"We've got this match before we've got a couple of weeks of active rest before preparing for end of season spring tour and that involves four Tests."

"I'll take a couple of weeks and get myself ready to prepare for what is going to be a tough series of games at the end of the year," he said.

"I get great support back home but you probably don't see it publicly. I get wonderful support from people that count, they don't seem to get much airtime but that's the way they are anyway," he said.

"When I travel there's always great respect, not just towards myself but to the team in general so that's always a pleasing aspect. I can honestly say I get great support in Australia but you don't see too much of it."

Gregan said he doesn't take his position in the side for granted. Apart from any selection issues there is always the chance that injury can intervene.

"It could end very quickly, the first five or 10 minutes, the first exchange, if you get a major injury and that's it, you don't have control over that."

"I approach them very much as one game at a time. It is a cliche but you savour every moment as well and that's how I'll approach it."

"Everyone feels pressure, it's how you deal with it. I always try to deal with it in a real positive mindset," he said.