Fullback Muliaina will become New Zealand's most-capped outside back this weekend © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Sean Fitzpatrick | Richie McCaw | Mils Muliaina | Tana Umaga

Tournaments/Tours: Tri Nations

Teams: Australia | New Zealand

New Zealand's Mils Muliaina insists he is more concerned about his side's fortunes than personal milestones as he prepares to become his country's most-capped outside back.

Muliaina will play his 75th test when he runs on to ANZ Stadium to face the Wallabies on Saturday, moving past former captain Tana Umaga's tally of 74 caps. It lifts the fullback to fourth on the all-time All Blacks list, behind recordholder Sean Fitzpatrick (92 Tests), Justin Marshall (81) and Ian Jones (79), and one ahead of current captain Richie McCaw.

"It's always nice to achieve things like that, I never really thought I'd get past 50," said the fleet-footed fullback who made his debut in a narrow defeat to England in 2003.

"It's great to last this long and also have the faith of the coaches behind me to still be in the black jersey. I'm pretty proud of that."

But his own form, since a strong Super 14, and the All Blacks' dual South African defeats have added a bit of an edge. He said the team's lack of continuity and flow in recent times had been mirrored by his own efforts.

"I've been really disappointed with the last couple of games I've played; a lot of over-thinking and not quite being there physically as well. I'm feeling good now, a lot of bubble this week and perhaps the best I've felt in the last few weeks so hopefully it rolls on to the game."

Samoan-born and Invercargill-raised, Muliaina was reluctant to look too far ahead from a personal level. If he remains injury-free and his form holds, he could potentially near 100 caps by the World Cup in New Zealand in 2011, when he'll be 31.

"Yeah definitely. Being at 75 you're obviously pretty close to that," he said. "Fitzy's in the 90s... but that's for the future and I'm wanting to focus on right now. I've always been like that because you just don't know what could happen with injury, selection and with form.

"It would be nice to get that far but I've got to keep providing the goods to get there."

It was ironic he was passing Umaga's record, as he was a key figure in Muliaina's formative All Black years, he said.

"It was massive, he was very influential on me off the field and getting a lot of things right; talking about different things. He made me aware of being in the environment and what being an All Black is about. Also the little things about my game which was very influential. He was a big part of my career. I'd say he'd be keeping a big eye on things but I'm not sure if he knows (about the record)."

List of most All Blacks test appearances by outside backs:
74 - Mils Muliaina, Tana Umaga
63 - John Kirwan, Jonah Lomu
62 - Doug Howlett
60 - Jeff Wilson
58 - Christian Cullen
57 - Joe Rokocoko
56 - Leon MacDonald