Mercurial All Black fly-half Dan Carter starts at centre in Hong Kong © Getty Images

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Matches: Australia 14 - 19 New Zealand

Teams: Australia | New Zealand

Hosea Gear's startling domestic rugby season has been rewarded with a test debut against Australia in their historic Bledisloe Cup test in Hong Kong on Saturday.

Gear, who scored a record 14 tries for runners-up Wellington in the New Zealand Cup, features in a backline with significant alterations from the starting 15 that defended the Cup and Tri-Nations titles in Brisbane on September 13.

Makeshift wing Richard Kahui makes way for Gear as Joe Rokocoko takes a slow path back from injury. In the most significant move Daniel Carter, who ended the last Bledisloe at second five-eighth starts in midfield in place of Ma'a Nonu, who drops to the bench.

The decision to play Donald and Carter in tandem at Hong Kong Stadium was recognition of Carter's limited game time since Brisbane - he has only played a trial game against the New Zealand Barbarians in Auckland last week - and the need for two tactical kicking options against the Wallabies.

Mils Muliaina, whose wife Hayley gave birth to their first child Max just hours after the All Blacks squad touched down in Hong Kong this morning, has been named at fullback, though he is yet to join the team.

In the solitary change to the pack from Brisbane, Neemia Tialata starts at tight-head prop, though there will be one last farewell for the Gloucester-bound Greg Somerville after he was named on the bench.

Somerville, who thought the 28-24 victory in Brisbane marked the end of his 65-test career, is only on tour briefly as cover for John Afoa (knee) and Ben Franks (back). At this stage he will not be involved in the northern hemisphere Grand Slam attempt which starts in Edinburgh next Saturday.

Winger Drew Mitchell and No 8 Richard Brown replace the injured pair of Lote Tuqiri and Wycliff Palu, while flanker Dean Mumm and second row Mark Chisholm owe their promotions to injury to some extent, with Hugh McMeniman and James Horwill both also unavailable.

The final change to the starting line-up sees halfback Luke Burgess return, after he missed the Brisbane Test due to injury, replacing Sam Cordingley who drops to a place on the bench.

The bench features a potential new cap in the 20-year-old Western Force flanker David Pocock, who would become the 829th Wallaby - and the ninth new cap of 2008 - should he be required to take the field.

This year's Australian Under-20 captain is one of two loose forwards named among the substitutes, with the Waratahs skipper Phil Waugh being the other, alongside prop Matt Dunning and hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau.

Blindside flanker Mumm will provide lock cover. The bench also features the return of inside centre Berrick Barnes, who hasn't played since being forced from the field during Australia's historic win over South Africa at Durban in August.

Barnes has recovered from the injury to the AC joint in his shoulder he sustained on that occasion, although Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says his needs were best served by a re-introduction via the bench.

Tuqiri's unavailability has created room for the inclusion on the bench of his young Waratahs team-mate Lachie Turner, who debuted earlier in the year during the 40-10 win over France at Brisbane.

The Wallabies arrived in Hong Kong on Monday evening and Deans is satisfied with how the team's preparations have been carried out.

"While we've had a big build up, in terms of having had four weeks together in training camps prior to coming away, the focus specific to this match really only started once we assembled at Manly last week before heading to Hong Kong," Deans said.

"Saturday is an historic occasion, and one that the players are excited about, and proud to be a part of," Deans said.

Australia lost by four points against New Zealand in the Tri-Nations decider at Brisbane in September, but Deans welcomed the additional opportunity his side has to test itself against the number-one ranked side in the international game. "I said after our last meeting that we'd be happy to play the All Blacks in a car park to have another game with them, and I stand by that.

"Each game offers us the opportunity to test ourselves and raise our standards, providing a great barometer of the progress that we've made as a team. While we'd obviously have liked the Bledisloe Cup series to have still been alive, the chance to gain a Test win against New Zealand remains and that is an opportunity to be cherished."

New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Hosea Gear, Conrad Smith, Dan Carter, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald, Jimmy Cowan, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (c), Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.

Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Greg Somerville, Anthony Boric, Adam Thompson, Piri Weepu, Ma'a Nonu, Isaia Toeava

Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Ryan Cross, Stirling Mortlock, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Richard Brown, George Smith, Dean Mumm, Nathan Sharpe, Mark Chisholm, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson

Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Matt Dunning, Phil Waugh, David Pocock, Sam Cordingley, Berrick Barnes, Lachie Turner

Referee: Alan Lewis (Ire)
Touch judges: George Clancy (Ire), Peter Fitzgibbon (Ire)
TMO: Giulio De Santis (Ita)