Wallaby skipper John Eales, who ends a distinguished decade-long international career on Saturday, says his final Test could not have come against a more appropriate opponent.

The 31-year-old will be making his 85th Test appearance and his 55th as captain when he leads the Wallabies at Stadium Australia in Sydney for the Tri-Nations decider against the All Blacks.

The Queensland lock is generally regarded by Australian fans as the greatest player and leader in Wallaby history.

His captaincy has coincided with them capturing the 1999 World Cup, becoming Tri-Nations champions last year, defeating the British Lions for the first time ever - and winning six of the past eight Tests against New Zealand.

His farewell before a sellout crowd of 91 000 will be the 18th time he has come up against the All Blacks. "It's pretty appropriate," he said. "You're never going to get a harder game than against New Zealand, and to be a Tri-Nations decider on top of that adds that little bit extra."

While Eales deflected questions like the best players he had played with or against, he said a Test against the All Blacks always had an added dimension. "From an Australian point of view, there is no game each year where there is a stronger focus.

"All Australians know how strong the All Blacks are. Therefore every win we get against them - and over history there haven't been as many as they have got against us - is savoured."

He said no particular trans-Tasman Test stood out for him over the past 11 years, but nominated three series: 1992, when Australia won 2-1, but three points was the most that separated the teams in any of the Tests; 1998, when the Wallabies achieved a 3-0 whitewash after losing the previous seven Tests against them; and last year, when New Zealand won a thriller in Sydney 39-35, only for Eales to kick a late penalty to guide his side to a 24-23 victory in Wellington and retain the Bledisloe Cup.

"The 2000 series was something that was particularly special; the two matches that were involved were quite extraordinary. The one at Stadium Australia was the most memorable game I've been part of."

The archetype of the modern lock with his height, athleticism, ball skills and even goal-kicking ability, Eales made his Test debut against Wales in 1991. He went on to become a member of Australia's victorious World Cup campaign later that year.

He said he knew at the end of the 1999 World Cup that the 2003 tournament would be too far down the track for him. "At the end of the day, it was the mind - I just knew that it was time to move on," he said.

"The body is capable of going on a bit more, but I always thought I wouldn't go on to 2003. For various reasons, I decided it was not the right thing to do."

Eales was looking forward to soaking up what is bound to be an emotional night and admitted that he would have mixed sentiments when it was all over. "I'll miss the feeling of being part of the Wallaby team and striving your best to represent your country."

"You're always under a lot of pressure, but that's what makes it exciting."