Auckland, July 18 NZPA - In stark contrast to the last Bledisloe Cup rugby encounter on Eden Park, Graham Henry and Robbie Deans are no longer the big game players.

Henry's reappointment as All Blacks head coach ahead of Deans despite New Zealand's failure at the 2007 World Cup was debated incessantly once the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) ushered Super rugby's most successful coach into the Wallabies mentor role.

And when Deans' first test against Henry last year resulted in a 34-19 win for the Wallabies in Sydney, the rematch on August 2 was always going to be about the man in charge of the All Blacks and the man that missed out.

The All Blacks regrouped to inflict a 29-point thumping, the first of three trans-Tasman victories that enabled New Zealand to retain the Bledisloe Cup -- and Tri-Nations.

Twelve months on, the coach's battle of wills has its place but the role of two other old foes is an obvious focal point on the field tonight.

Inspirational captain Richie McCaw marks another return from a knee injury to reprise his decade-long rivalry with the seemingly indestructible George Smith.

The openside flankers' contest at the breakdown should be a compelling element to the first of four Bledisloe Cup tests in 2009.

That Smith becomes just the fourth Australian to reach a century of caps adds to the sense of occasion, though Smith is typically downbeat regarding his achievement in joining George Gregan, David Campese and Stephen Larkham.

Smith, who turned 29 on Tuesday, was trying to treat his 21st run against the All Blacks like its predecessors though he admitted it was fitting to test his mettle against New Zealand and their leader.

"They've been the barometer for a number of years and I guess it (the breakdown) has been a key component of the game," he said when asked to preview another meeting with McCaw.

"With Richie coming back, I'm sure he'll be an influence on his team.

"He is always going to play well, be on the ball and be all over the field."

McCaw replied in kind when asked what made Smith his most enduring opponent.

"I remember the very first time I played him -- the under-19s in '99," said McCaw, who is poised to earn his 71st cap.

"He never seems to have a bad game. He's pretty smart in terms of when he chooses to do something, he usually does it pretty well and has an impact," McCaw said.

"When you think things are going all right suddenly he'll be in there and thieve the ball or create a good opportunity for someone."

One point of difference between the two combatants is their recent medical history.

McCaw's presence is not as guaranteed as previous seasons but Smith can cannily work around his high-impact position.

"When I first came into professional rugby I was very gung-ho in the way that I approached each ruck," Smith said.

"If I kept doing that, I would definitely have had a number of injuries. I've matured and I'm experienced enough to know when to attack a ruck and when not to."

While McCaw and Smith are domineering figures, the All Black insist they are not individual match winners.

"I always say how we get to operate often depends on what happens with the whole forward pack and how much rope you get to operate with," he said.

Smith, who made his test debut against France at Paris in 2000, will have help keeping McCaw on a tight rein.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has included Smith's long-time rival Phil Waugh and up-and-coming Zimbabwean David Pocock on the bench.

McCaw shrugged off the special treatment, after all he held his own against Smith and Waugh at Eden Park last year when he returned from an ankle sprain.

Henry interpreted the selection as a tribute to McCaw.

"They're trying to double team him at some stage, it shows a lot of respect for what we're trying to do as well."