Slade to shape All Blacks' quarter-final vs Argentina

In what shapes as a monstrous forward battle, the key to the outcome will not be the two packs but the tactical nous of two backs from different generations -- All Blacks fly-half Colin Slade and the Pumas inside centre Felipe Contepomi.

New Zealand's well-documented injury woes, which see them without Dan Carter while captain Richie McCaw will play through the pain barrier with an injured foot, leave the novice Slade to steer the ship.

Slade was celebrating his 11th birthday the day Contepomi made his Test debut in 1998, and now Argentina's fate rests on how the 34-year-old warhorse distributes what should be an ample ball supply from his forwards.

The venue could not suit the All Blacks better with a partisan crowd of 60,000 expected at their Eden Park home ground where they have not been beaten in 25 Tests dating back to a 23-20 loss to France in 1994.

This quarter-final is the only one of the four with a dominant side and Contepomi admits the Pumas need a "perfect game" to produce one of rugby's biggest upsets and Argentina's first win over the All Blacks in 14 attempts.

Through the pool matches in this tournament the top-ranked All Blacks' form suggests they will easily extend their record over the seventh-seeded Pumas but New Zealand are aware they have cracked under pressure before.

"There's a lot of pressure and we've known about that pressure over the years. If you don't perform you're out," said coach Graham Henry, who was also in charge when they were sent home by France in the quarter-finals four years ago.

Henry is fielding his top pack to match that of Argentina although it means inspirational flanker McCaw is playing with a troublesome foot.

McCaw sets the standard for the All Blacks, and Henry is cautious about expecting miracles from his captain.

"I think Richie's got a challenge on. He hasn't played for a while and he's not preparing as he normally does so it's going to be a big mental challenge for him."

But the bigger gamble is entrusting Slade to run the game plan in his 10th Test after the forwards have dealt with the renowned big scrum, lineout drives and physical presence of Argentina at the breakdown.

Henry was cautiously optimistic Slade could unleash the try-scoring potential of the All Blacks' outside backs.

"He's getting better," Henry hedged. "He's obviously the navigator of the team playing there, playing at 10.

"So that's a big ask when he's playing with guys who have played 100 Test matches and 85 Test matches and so on and he's playing his 10th."

Despite what the form book says, Contempomi does not believe Argentina are out of the game and feels with a bit of luck and a full 80-minute performance things could go their way.

"We have to try to play the perfect game and if we prepare our tactics well, then luck may go our way. We can make that luck for ourselves, but we are up against the best team in the world," he said.

With the exception of injured back-row Juan-Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Argentina are fielding the same side that beat Scotland two weeks ago to pave their way into the last eight.

They also went close to toppling England in their opening game, leaving former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga to express the fears of a rugby-mad nation looking for an end to 24 years of World Cup hurt since then hosts New Zealand lifted the trophy at the inaugural 1987 edition.

"If Argentina are in front heading into the last 10 minutes we are going to be in trouble."