The All Blacks head into tomorrow's opening Tri-Nations Test with new-found confidence against a South African side troubled by internal divisions.

After a disastrous season by New Zealand standards last year, beaten in all four Tri-Nations Tests, the All Blacks have warmed up for the series this year with satisfying wins against France (547) and Western Samoa (71-13).

South Africa come to Dunedin off the back of a shock loss to Wales and discontent over their playing style. Coach Nick Mallett has been accused within South African rugby circles of favouring players of English ancestry over Afrikaners. He also has to deal with a "merit with bias" policy which requires black players be put on the field if every other selection criterion is equal.

And there is a philosophical battle going on with Mallett wanting to emulate the open rugby style of the All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies. The late Kitch Christie, in charge of South Africa when they beat New Zealand in extra time in the 1995 World Cup final, favoured a close, brute-strength play, a style favoured by many in the current squad. The problems don't auger well for a South African win at the celebrated "House of Pain".

For All Black coach John Hart, however, life is looking unexpectedly good after last season's disaster. He has the luxury of not only a potentially great squad but the knowledge that even the New Zealand second 15 could probably take on most of the other potential World Cup finalists.

Giant winger Jonah Lomu, who cannot make the starting line-up and is to be used as an impact player tomorrow, is impressed with the calibre of the squad.

"I am really glad to be a part of this team. To get a chance and an opportunity to play for a side like this comes around once in a blue moon," he said, while adding first choice wings Tana Umaga and Christian Cullen will have to fight to retain their berths.

"Those guys are playing really well but I'm not going to give them an easy run. I'll be doing all I can to keep the pressure on them."

Mallett has made six changes to the Springbok side which lost to Wales, and rookie scrum-half David von Hoesslin is among the more talked-about additions in the new line-up.

"This is something I have been waiting for all my life," Van Hoesslin (24) said after studying videos of New Zealand's recent games.

"He (Marshall) is just coming back to form. He is big, he is strong, and he provides a great service. He will be the best scrum-half I have ever played against. But I am not thinking about competing against him - I am playing against a team."

Mallet has confirmed that lineout specialist lock Mark Andrews will not see out the full game. Loosehead prop Os du Randt, who will play his first game for the Springboks since December 1996, is also likely to be taken off early in the second half.

Mallett is determined to keep both players going on a rotational basis, particularly Andrews whom he views as vital to the Springboks's World Cup campaign.

"We have a lot of players who have basically been going non-stop for three years with about a total of six weeks off in that time.

"Mark's basically had a month off with his ankle injury. He'll play most of the match, but I doubt if he will play all the match," said Mallet.