All Black backs Joe Rokocoko and Aaron Mauger will return from injury for the final Pool D match against Wales on Sunday 2 November at Telstra Stadium in Sydney.
The inclusion of the pair, considered central to the best All Black XV prior to being injured, means that the New Zealand run on side will be close to its strongest.
Form Guide
Both teams are undefeated going into this match, the difference on the Pool D leader board being the bonus points received by the try scoring All Black machine.
New Zealand have just handed out three consecutive lessons in rugby, their matches against Tonga, Canada and Italy all victorious by margins of over 60 points.
The Red Dragons have also faced the same three sides, beating all but by far smaller margins.
Previous meetings
The nations have met twice at Rugby World Cups and it has been New Zealand the victors on both occasions. The All Blacks won the first 49-6 in the 1987 semi-final and triumphed again in a RWC 1995 pool match 34-9.
New Zealand will go in firm favourites for the match placed at number two on the Official IRB World Rankings, ahead of Wales who are at eight.
In and Out
All Black coach John Mitchell has filled the All Black team with most of the first rate talent that he could get his hands on.
Rokocoko returns to the side after picking up a hamstring injury against Italy in New Zealand's first game of the Tournament, loose forwards Richard McCaw and Jerry Collins are also back, while lock Chris Jack remains sidelined with an ankle injury, giving Ali Williams another start alongside Brad Thorn.
Mils Muliaina retains the full back spot, while Leon MacDonald brings his all round skills in defence, attack and goal kicking to the outside centre position, keeping powerhouse Wellington Hurricane Ma'a Nonu on the bench.
Welsh coach Steve Hansen has rung out the changes for his team’s final pool game. There are 10 new starting players and two positional changes from the side which secured their passage to the quarter finals with their win over Italy.
Captain Colin Charvis moves from number 8 back to flanker while centre Sonny Parker is the only surviving back from the outing in Canberra and he trades the number 13 jersey for number 12.
Of the omitted players, star centre Iestyn Harris was withdrawn after picking up a knock to his leg in the game against Italy.
Key players
The retention of New Zealand's first-choice back three of Mils Muliaina, Doug Howlett and Joe Rokocoko means that Wales will have to contain some of the most incisive counter attacking players in the game.
The Welsh will be looking for their hard working forwards of Robert Sidoli and Colin Charvis to stop the roll of the New Zealand. Lock Sidoli is renowned for his high work rate and will be hoping to replicate his good performance against the All Blacks when Wales toured this year in June.
While captain Charvis will be looking to continue his good run with the captain's armband, he has been enjoying this Tournament.
Welsh fly half Stephen Jones will carry extra responsibility without goal kicking whiz Iestyn Harris in the lineup. Wales will no doubt be keen to take advantage of any point scoring opportunities and the steady boot of Jones could prove crucial in the wash up.
What it means
Win or lose, either way both these teams will have a very demanding path down which to travel. The winner of this final Pool D match, New Zealand v Wales, will top Pool D and play the winner of the South Africa v Samoa encounter. The loser will play England in the quarter final.
What they said
All Blacks coach John Mitchell said he expected a much improved Wales from the team beaten 55-3 by the All Blacks in a Rugby World Cup warm up match in June this year at Hamilton, New Zealand.
"They play with far more width,” Mitchell said.
“Collectively they have a greater skill set and are very physical in attack and defence.''
Reuben Thorne (NZL) - Captain
On the upcoming match with Wales:
"It's been a good week. Preparations have gone well, so all the guys are looking forward to it. It's been a longer week than normal, but it has gone well. Hopefully, they will test us everywhere. It will test our structure and strategies going through, so that will be a major difference.
They will be physical like the other teams so we will be physical, but they will probably be more organised than other teams. It will be good to have a solid contest going into the finals."
On the All Blacks' preparations for the finals:
"I think mentally there has been a step-up in the approach that the boys are taking. They know that the level of the game is going up."
Leon MacDonald (NZL) - Centre
On playing in the centre against Wales:
"I'm really looking forward to it. I played a lot with Aaron MAUGER (NZL) at the Crusaders. I suppose after getting one game under my belt I seem to be a lot more confident going into the next so I'm really looking forward to it. I played most of my rugby in the centre growing up, so all through my age group stuff I played there."
On being the All Blacks' goalkicker:
"I used to kick a lot when I was young, but never in front of 50 or 80 thousand people, so I was really lucky that we got a lot of tries and I got a lot of practice last week. But in a game like Wales it will be a lot tighter and a lot more difficult."
Steve Hansen (WAL) coach:
On picking his team to play New Zealand:
"There's a lot of changes, some forced and some by choice. Shane WILLIAMS (wing) and Garan EVANS (fullback) deserve game time."
On playing New Zealand and progressing the Quarter Finals:
"New Zealand are playing a lot on my mind at the moment and we will deal with the next game after that."
"We must perform to our best and if we are not good enough, well, that is the way it is. We have to learn if the gap is a big gap or a small gap. We respect New Zealand - we fear nobody."
"This is a Tournament and it is important the 22-man squad perform. It's not a rest between Test Matches."
"New Zealand are one of the best three sides in the Tournament. This will be the third time we have played them in the last 12 months and there has been some pain involved. We hope things are getting better and we have done a lot of physical preparation."
On being a New Zealander:
"It's always a bit special when you play against where you come from."
Colin Charvis (WAL) - Captain
On the last time he played New Zealand:
"It was not a pleasant memory but I am looking forward to the challenge again. The onus is on me as captain to play to the best I can as it is for all the players on the team."
"The best measure of a player is playing against the best teams in the world."
Match details
Telstra Stadium, Sydney
Sunday 2 November
20.35 local time
Match officials
Referee Andre Watson
Touch Judges Peter Marshall, Alan Lewis,
TV match official Mark Lawrence