Hosea won the last of his six Test caps against Wales in Cardiff last November © Getty Images

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Matches: New Zealand 30 - 14 Australia

Players/Officials: Hosea Gear

Tournaments/Tours: Tri Nations

Teams: Australia | New Zealand

New Zealand winger Hosea Gear is out to follow the example of fellow speedster Cory Jane and make a return to top form against Australia in Auckland this weekend.

Jane banished memories of an indifferent Super Rugby campaign with two tries in New Zealand's 40-7 Tri-Nations victory over South Africa last weekend and Gear is determined to make a similar impression if he makes his expected return from a hamstring injury against the Wallabies at Eden Park.

Gear said he would have preferred a club game or a national provincial championship match to test out the injury that flared up during the All Blacks' training camp but will use Jane performance to reassure himself that he can play his usual bold game. "We're sort of in the same boat really," Gear said. "He's proved you don't need a lot of game time to play well. There's evidence right there that it can be done."

Gear could find himself in a backline with five of his Hurricanes team-mates - Jane, Piri Weepu, Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu are also possible starters - as he seeks to secure a place in the All Blacks squad for next month's World Cup.

"Every time you put the black jersey on you've got to have that mindset that it could be taken away from you at any second. You've really got to be on your toes and it's a good position to be in, it's good competition," Gear said.

"Obviously the way Zac [Guildford] and Cory played at the weekend, I see them as the best wingers in the world at the moment, so it's a good opportunity to measure myself up against those guys."

Few games are likely to test Gear's mettle more than a clash with the Wallabies, who gained some much-needed confidence with a last-minute victory in Hong Kong last year after a series of defeats.

"Obviously it's a big test for the boys. Some guys are still just coming back, so things aren't really going to be perfect, but we will be trying to get some things going and obviously build up some momentum heading into the World Cup."

In the wake of a tumultuous first Hurricanes season under Mark Hammett that has seen Nonu, Weepu, Andrew Hore and Aaron Cruden now depart, Gear said he hadn't decided if he was sticking to the Wellington-based franchise and wanted to concentrate on the All Blacks.

"I guess having the focus of the All Blacks definitely takes away the frustration and everything of what's going on within the Hurricanes franchise. At the time it was happening I was really focusing on trying to play well so I didn't really let the distractions come into it," he said.

"Obviously I've got more important things ahead of me at this stage and I'm just keeping the Super rugby stuff sort of in the back of my mind. I'll just keep it in the back pocket and park it up for now."