Wellington – Flyhalf Daniel Carter has been rushed into the All Blacks lineup for Saturday’s Tri-Nations Test against Australia in Sydney as the New Zealand coaches make a last ditch effort to arrest their team’s slumping form.

“It doesn’t get much bigger than this,” head coach Graham Henry said on Tuesday. “The Bledisloe Cup is on the line and it’s really a win or lose match in the Tri-Nations, so that makes it an exciting challenge for us.”

Carter will make his first Test appearance of the season after being sidelined since January with a partially ruptured Achilles tendon. After one club game and three matches for his Canterbury province, Carter has been deemed fit to make his 60th Test appearance for New Zealand and his 14th against Australia.

Carter replaces Stephen Donald at flyhalf in a new inside backs pairing with Luke McAlister, who was named in place of Ma’a Nonu at centre after making a failed return to the All Blacks team at flyhalf earlier this season.

Kieran Read replaces 58-Test veteran Rodney So’oialo at No. 8, while Owen Franks will again start at tighthead prop in only his fifth Test.

Carter sustained his injury while playing on sabbatical for the French club Perpignan in January. He cut short an expected slow recuperation to play for the tiny Southbridge club,then for Canterbury in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship.

Carter has looked fit and near the top of his game in his three NPC appearances, ready to add to his tally of 153 points for New Zealand against Australia.

After sternly defending McAlister’s credentials as a flyhalf, in spite of his inadequate performances in that role against France, Italy then in the Tri-Nations, the All Blacks coaches have now promoted the 27-Test veteran as a midfield back.

McAlister has consistently claimed to be more at home at inside center than at flyhalf, but the coaches had ignored his stated preference until Tuesday when he was named ahead of the out-of-form Nonu.

He remains a high risk selection. McAlister has returned after a two-year spell with the English club Sale less of a player than he was in the earlier part of his international career.

The Wallabies will likely have noted the hesitance in his play this season and the fact he is less likely to attack the defensive line than the stronger, faster Nonu. McAlister frequently tries to beat defences with chip kicks but that threat has been read and defused by most teams the All Blacks have played this season.

So’oialo has been made to pay for a lack of form this season, largely brought on by injuries and a lack of game time. Read is seen as a loose forward of considerable potential but, while he has some ball-handling skills, is inclined to miss key tackles and will be severely tested by the Wallabies loose trio.

Franks has made a strong start to his Test career in a generally sound All Blacks scrum. The principal concern for the All Blacks forwards remains their lineout, but hooker Andrew Hore and locks Brad Thorn and Isaac Ross have all retained their places.

Donald, Nonu and So’oialo have dropped to the reserves bench for Saturday’s match. Fullback Mils Muliaina will make his 75th Test appearance and captain Richie McCaw his 73rd in an experienced All Blacks lineup.

New Zealand beat Australia at Auckland in July in the first of four meetings between the teams this season. The All Blacks have twice lost to South Africa in Tri-Nations matches this season, while the Wallabies have lost once, making Saturday’s match crucial to both teams.

If the All Blacks win they will retain the Bledisloe Cup until next season.

Lineup: Mils Muliaina, Josevata Rokocoko, Conrad Smith, Luke McAlister, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino, Isaac Ross, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.

Reserves: Aled de Malmanche, John Afoa, Jason Eaton, Rodney Sooialo, Brendon Leonard, Stephen Donald, Maa Nonu.