The spotlight will be firmly on New Zealand fly-half Stephen Donald ahead of the Bledisloe Cup showdown with Australia.

But the 25-year-old was showing few signs of nerves ahead of the clash in Auckland.

Donald, who started both Tests against France, has made a quicker than expected recovery from a hamstring strain to reclaim the number 10 jersey from Luke McAlister who started against Italy.

Both players have copped a fair bit of criticism for their performances in the All Blacks' below-par displays in June with neither really making their mark as playmakers in the absence of the injured Daniel Carter.

In the end, All Blacks coach Graham Henry said it was Donald's greater experience in the pivot's role which had earned him his fifth Test start - and second in a Bledisloe Cup game - in that position, a welcome vote of confidence.

"It's certainly nice to have the confidence and knowledge the coaches have the faith in me to go out there and do the job," Donald admitted.

"Every time you get picked for the All Blacks you feel pretty honoured and pretty special."

Rather than feeling apprehensive about squaring off against Matt Giteau and company, his overriding emotion was one of excitement, despite the obvious pressure to perform.

He said: "It's the Aussies at Eden Park. It's the only Test I went to as a kid so I'm quite excited by it all.

"You can't get hung up on this and that. You've just got to be excited and that's what I am."

Donald admitted after the scratchy win in Wellington, where he struggled with his goalkicking and overall game, he was disappointed with his efforts in the atrocious wet conditions.

But after a couple of weeks off - where he managed to get a spot of fishing in with his injured team-mate Richard Kahui - and with the opening game of the Tri-Nations series just days away, the Chiefs pivot sees little point in dwelling on the past.

"There's not much you can do about it," he said. "You can't get too hung up about what's gone. I've learned some lessons out of that but I'm not getting hung up on it.

"I'm pretty thick-skinned. You've just got to kick on through it."

He also had the chance to pick Carter's brain during the two-day camp in Wellington along with McAlister, Stephen Brett and Piri Weepu.

"We chewed the fat on a lot of things. It was more about process and what Dessie (Carter) looks for and does in the week leading up to the game," Donald explained.

"It's was pretty similar to what I was doing myself. It was just good to hear that's what Dessie does too.

"It was just a great chance to get that into your head that you're on the right track."

Donald is also taking confidence from his cameo appearance against the Wallabies in Brisbane last year, where he played an instrumental part in turning round a 17-7 deficit into a 28-24 win which saw the All Blacks retain the Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations trophy.

"I guess it proves I can do it," he said. "When I'm going out against them it does feel good knowing I can do that.

"I've started against them now in Hong Kong as well. I feel I've got a bit of experience in that regard."

Giteau is certainly not underestimating Donald heading into the Eden Park clash.

"Tactically he's a great kicker of the ball. Defensively he's solid but he also challenges the line as a ball runner," the 26-year-old Aussie said.

"He's a strong runner and quite direct.

"Defensively for me it's going to be a big challenge. I think that's where his real strength is in his ability to ball play but he's also threatens the line really well."

The Kiwi pivot was equally as complimentary about his opposite number, who has developed a strong combination with inside centre Berrick Barnes under Robbie Deans' tutelage.

"He's just a quality operator. He's up there with DC (Carter). He's certainly playing well," added Donald.

"He's probably the sharpest fly-half on his feet there is. He's small and that gives him an advantage to just be able to sneak through.

"He's good on his feet. You've got to be aware. You can't knock off until he is actually physically past the ball.

"When you're playing against someone like Giteau she's certainly a hard day at the office."