Dynamic flanker George Smith wants to steal more ball than his usual truckload for the Wallabies in their Tri-Nations Test against the All Blacks in Dunedin on Saturday.

Just turned 21, Smith will be the youngest player in the game but potentially the most influential.

He has been a revelation on the openside for both the ACT Brumbies and the Wallabies and shapes as the biggest thorn in the All Blacks' side at Carisbrook. Any All Black tackled to the ground will need immediate support or risk having the dextrous No 7 reach over to snaffle possession.

Smith made an art form of it for the Super 12 champion Brumbies and was a consistent stand-out for Australia in the series against the Lions and in their Tri -ations loss to South Africa in Pretoria.

"Stealing the ball is definitely something I work at and hopefully on Saturday I can get a few more steals than I normally get," Smith told NZPA.

"Throughout the year at the Brumbies I've been trained to try to be a menace in that situation, at the breakdown. I'd get regular sessions on how to steal the ball and it's followed at the Wallabies.

"It's a tough style of game to play but I've been lucky with no injuries this year. Maybe it's because of a young body but hopefully it stays this way."

It will be Smith's eighth Test since taking over last year from veteran David Wilson but his first against the All Blacks.

"I'm sure it will be a memorable experience," said Smith, who believed playing against New Zealand was not the fearful experience it once may have been for youngsters.

"When I was growing up the All Blacks were the best team in the world. But the Australian team are now very competitive.

"I think with the experience of playing Super 12 you get to know how the players play and what their strengths are. But you know in a Test match situation things are going to be a lot harder.

"Playing a full season of Super 12 has helped me. I'm very happy with the form I'm in at the moment and I hope to continue to improve all areas of my game."

Born to a Tongan mother and Australian father, Smith's skill caught the eye of Eddie Jones, now the Australian coach, at a schoolboys match in 1996.

He was destined to pull on the gold jumper after representing Australia at several age group levels and could now be deemed an automatic selection. A loss to injury on Saturday would be keenly felt as the rest of the Wallabies loose-forwards and reserve bench players couldn't match his speed and expertise.

Smith said a different approach was being used to prepare for New Zealand compared to the Springboks.

"South Africa came out and were very physical and very intense and knocked us off our game," Smith said.

"I guess we didn't dominate at the set pieces and we weren't at our best at the breakdown. We've focused on those areas but it's a different game.

"New Zealand play the game a lot different. They use their backs a lot more and we'll have to try to combat that."