Ardie Savea is excited with the new challenge of playing with Papalii and Ioane in the loose-forward

All Blacks number 8 Ardie Savea is looking forward to teaming up with Akira Ioane and Dalton Papalii in the loose-forward in the Bledisloe Cup opener tonight at Eden Park.

He says he has not played with Papalii before but he is excited about the new challenge.

Savea says they might have some fun at times but when it's game time they cover for each other.

Insert: Savea on loose forwards

Since Kieran Read retired, both Savea and Hoskins Sotutu have been utilised in the Number 8 position.

The All Blacks have played the Wallabies 170 times with the Men in Black winning 117 games, lost 45 matches and drawn 8 times.

The last time the Wallabies won a match at Eden Park was in 1986 where they beat the All Blacks 22-9 and 2002 was the last year they won the Bledisloe Cup.

Sevu Reece and George Bower have been named in the starting line-up for the All Blacks while Rob Valetini will feature for the Wallabies.

The All Blacks will face the Wallabies in the Bledisloe opener at 7.05 tonight.