Larkham targets All Blacks scalp

Australia fly-half Stephen Larkham is hoping Australia can gain a psychological edge over World Cup favourites New Zealand by winning Saturday's Tri-Nations encounter in Melbourne.

Larkham, who will join Edinburgh after the World Cup, said: "A win would be very important for our psychology.

"We certainly want to get some confidence out of these matches with pretty much the team and the same combinations we are going to take into the World Cup."

The 33-year-old acknowledges, however, that New Zealand will be the team to beat this autumn.

"I think on paper they (New Zealand) certainly have the team to do it," Larkham added.

"It is just a matter of preparing for each game and being physically and mentally right for each game.

"In a World Cup it comes down to who plays best on the day, it doesn't necessarily matter about your form previously."