Jon Geddes | September 3, 2008

AUSTRALIA captain Stirling Mortlock and star winger Lote Tuqiri have described Saturday week's Tri-Nations decider against New Zealand as the toughest assignment the side has faced this season.

Their frank admission reveals the enormity of the challenge facing the Australian team at Suncorp Stadium as they come to terms with their record 53-8 loss to the Springboks at the weekend.

"We have a couple of weeks now to think about it and hopefully do a job in Brisbane," Tuqiri said.

"It's going to be even tougher. It's going to be probably the toughest game we have played all year.

"It's going to be huge."

His thoughts were echoed by Mortlock, who emphasised that the Tri-Nations title is on the line for both the Wallabies and the All Blacks.

"It's quite unique in this tournament - whoever wins takes away the silverware," he said.

"All three teams are quality teams and it's shown through the results - if one team is really up on the day, results can really swing one way or the other."

Mortlock provided a fascinating insight into the effect of last weekend's defeat on himself and the rest of the squad.

"Only the group knows the feeling, so you have to live with it for a while," he said.

"You take that on the chin and we all put our hands up about what transpired. But that does turn into a bit of resolve to hopefully turn it around.

"A number of times now a week has proved to be a long time in footy."

Mortlock said it was timely the team had a couple of days off before preparing for what he says will be a "a massive battle" on Saturday week.

"We go into camp on Sunday and I expect all the guys to be fully recharged and raring to go," he said.

Tuqiri said the players had to stay positive even though the Springboks game wasn't pretty.

"We just have got to stick to our patterns, we just didn't play the way we want to play," he said.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said Dan Vickerman was definitely unavailable for the All Blacks game, while Berrick Barnes was also an unlikely starter.

The positive news was that prop Benn Robinson had been cleared of a fractured hand and should be OK.

Deans said the Wallabies would not consider calling in players from outside the current squad for the decider.