The key man - No 10 Dan Carter soaks up the Auckland atmosphere.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw takes part in the traditional Maori welcome at Aotea Square.

A proud All Blacks squad in Auckland - are these the 2011 World Cup winners?

Aucklanders come out to greet their rugby heroes.

Isaiah Toeava, Mils Muliaina and Ma'a Nonu don headwear at the All Blacks' official welcome.

Young and old came out to offer their support - including stunning Aarush Patel.

All Black Keven Mealamu, right, meets French tourist Alain Lapeyre, who gets some memorabilia signed.

All Black John Afoa meets with one rugby fan at Rebel Sport in Auckland.

All Blacks Andy Ellis, Keven Mealamu and John Afoa were at Rebel Sport in Auckland today to meet the fans.

All Blacks Andy Ellis at Rebel Sport in Auckland today chats with a happy fan.

All Blacks Andy Ellis, Keven Mealamu and John Afoa were at Rebel Sport in Auckland today to meet the fans.

Richie McCaw and Piri Weepu lead the New Zealand haka.

Sonny Bill Williams goes for the line during the All Blacks vs Tonga opening match.

All Blacks' centre Sonny Bill Williams signs an autograph for a fan.

All Blacks' Kieran Read sits out training with an ankle injury.

All Blacks' Cory Jane at practice with Zac Guildford.

All Blacks' star Dan Carter sits out training with a back strain.

The All Blacks' front rowers relax in a swimming pool in Hamilton.

All Blacks' Brad Thorn talks to some fans.

Ali Williams and Ma'a Nonu mucking around at a swimming pool.

Graham Henry, coach of the All Blacks, looks on pregame.

The All Blacks perform the Haka.

All Black Andy Ellis passes the ball from the base of a scrum.

Richard Kahui of the All Blacks goes over to score the second try.

All Black right wing Cory Jane is wrapped up as Victor Vito leaps to his aid.

Andy Ellis of the All Blacks goes over to score his try.

Andrew Hore of the All Blacks goes over to score a try.

All Black replacement Sonny Bill Williams scores and celebrates with All Black second-five Ma'a Nonu.

All Black replacement Sonny Bill Williams setting up a try.

Portrait shot of Richie McCaw ahead of his historic 100th test against France.

Israel Dagg and Sonny Bill Williams get help from Piri Weepu during their warm-up.

Dan Carter runs the cutter at All Blacks training.

Richie McCaw seemed to be moving freely at training, following his calf injury setback.

Ma'a Nonu on the charge at All Blacks' training.

A young All Blacks supporter waits for the game to start.

Graham Henry reacts to a question at an All Blacks press conference.

All Black first-five Dan Carter cuts through the defence to set up Israel Dagg for a try.

Sonny Bill Williams works out at the AUT gym in Takapuna ahead of the All Blacks World Cup quarter final match against Argentina.

All Black Victor Vito works out at the gym at AUT in Auckland ahead of the quarter final this weekend.

Richard Kahui, Sonny Bill Williams, Adam Thompson and Cory Jane arrive for a gym session at AUT Akoranga.

Ma'a Nonu arrives at Wellington Airport with the All Blacks.

Israel Dagg arrives at Wellington Airport with the All Blacks.

New Zealand's Isreal Dagg passes to Ma'a Nonu as he is tackled by Quade Cooper of Australia.

The concern is there for all to see on the All Blacks faces and star playmaker Dan Carter limps off with a tournament-ending injury.

New Zealand All Blacks' Zac Guildford scores a try.

The All Blacks perform the Haka prior to the game.

New Zealand All Blacks' Victor Vito scores a try.

New Zealand All Blacks' Israel Dagg celebrates with teammate Zac Guildford after scoring a try.

New Zealand All Blacks' Israel Dagg reacts on his way to scoring a try.

The All Blacks score a try.

Ma'a Nonu of the All Blacks slides over to score the opening try of the match.

Israel Dagg's rooster? duck? cobra? sign made after his try in the All Blacks' game against France remains open to interpretation.

Centre Sonny Bill Williams of the All Blacks breaks through the tackle from Phil MacKenzie of Canada to score his team's ninth try.

Ma'a Nonu scores the first try of the match for the All Blacks.

The All Blacks have been dealt further backline injury problems with Richard Kahui and Israel Dagg the latest to be forced out from Sunday's Rugby World Cup quarterfinal against Argentina in Auckland.

Kahui and Dagg, the first choice wing and fullback, respectively, failed fully to recover from leg injuries that have been bothering them during the past two weeks and will not play in New Zealand's most important match in four years.

The news is a further blow to the hosts, with matchwinning pivot Dan Carter this week ruled out of the tournament and wing Zac Guildford also unavailable for this match because of a hamstring injury.

1 of 38 JASON OXENHAM/Fairfax Media Argentina no.8 Leonardo Senatore slips All Black captain Richie McCaw's tackle. 2 of 38 Getty Images Julio Farias Cabello of Argentina goes over to score the opening try. 3 of 38 IAIN MCGREGOR/Fairfax Media Argentinian fans back their side. 4 of 38 Getty Images Juan Jose Imhoff of Argentina celebrates as he scores their fifth try. 5 of 38 CHRIS SKELTON/Dominion Post An Argentina fan pregame. 6 of 38 IAIN McGREGOR/Fairfax Media England halfback Ben Youngs scores the first try of the match and celebrates with England centre Manu Tuilagi. 7 of 38 IAIN MCGREGOR/Fairfax Media Left to right, England halfback Richard Wigglesworth, Argentina prop Juan Figallo, Argentina wing Horacio Agulla and England prop Andrew Sheridan. 8 of 38 RICHARD COSGROVE/Fairfax Media Argentina first five-eighth Felipe Contepomi attacks the English line whilst England prop Andrew Sheridan and lock Courtney Lawes defend. 9 of 38 Reuters Tom Croft of England catches the line out during the IRB 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between Argentina. 10 of 38 Getty Images The English side line up to sing their national anthem. 11 of 38 Reuters Argentina players sing their national anthem before their Pool B match against England. 12 of 38 Reuters England's Jonny Wilkinson passes the ball during their Rugby World Cup Pool B match against Argentina. 13 of 38 PETER MEECHAM/Fairfax Media A fight erupts during England vs Argentina. 14 of 38 IAIN MCGREGOR/Fairfax Media Argentine fans. 15 of 38 Getty Images The Romania defense line manage to stop a try attempt by Juan Jose Imhoff of Argentina. 16 of 38 Reuters Argentina's Rodrigo Roncero lies on the ground injured. 17 of 38 CRAIG SIMCOX/Dominion Post Scotland's Max Evans tackled by Argentina's Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe. 18 of 38 Reuters Argentina's Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino scores a try. 19 of 38 Chris Skelton Argentinian fans at the Scotland v Argentina game at Wellington Regional Stadium. 20 of 38 ROBERT KITCHIN/Fairfax Media Nicolás Vergallo of Argentina with the ball. 21 of 38 Chris Skelton Argentina celebrate a close win over Scotland at Wellington Regional Stadium. 22 of 38 Getty Images Vakhtang Maisuradze of Georgia pounces on Argentina's Nicolás Vergallo. 23 of 38 Getty Images Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino of Argentina makes a break. 24 of 38 ROBERT KITCHIN/Fairfax Media Felipe Contepomi of Argentina scoring a try. 25 of 38 Reuters Argentina captain Felipe Contepomi lines up a penalty attempt. 26 of 38 Getty Images Lucas Amorosino of Argentina breaks through the Scotland defence to score a spectacular try. 27 of 38 Getty Images Flyhalf Santiago Fernandez of Argentina in action. 28 of 38 LUKE APPLEBY/Dominion Post Crowds await the Argentina team. 29 of 38 Reuters Argentina's Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino celebrates with a teammate after scoring a try. 30 of 38 Getty Images Santiago Fernandez of Argentina scores the first try during their Pool B match against Romania. 31 of 38 ROBYN EDIE/Southland Times Argentina fans support their team. 32 of 38 RICHARD COSGROVE/Fairfax Media Argentina fullback Martin Rodriguez attacks England fullback Ben Foden. 33 of 38 Reuters Argentina's Juan Fernandez Lobbe wins a line out. 34 of 38 IAIN MCGREGOR/Fairfax Media Rodrigo Roncero of Argentina, right, receives medical attention for an injury. 35 of 38 Getty Images Argentina train ahead of the England vs Argentina match in Dunedin. 36 of 38 JOHN COSGROVE/The Press Juan Manuel Leguizamon of the Argentina signs Fernando Yoles' flag at Dunedin Airport 37 of 38 JOHN COSGROVE/The Press Kiringaua Cassidy (7) a member of the combined Kings and Queens High Schools He Waka Kotuia kapa Haka team perform for the Argentinian rugby side. 38 of 38 JOHN COSGROVE/The Press The Agentinian rugby team arrives at Dunedin Airport.

The upshot will see Cory Jane and Sonny Bill Williams start on the wings, right and left, respectively, with veteran Mils Muliaina to slip into the No 15 jersey, and in the process make his 100th test match appearance. It will be Williams' first test start on the wing.

The good news is that the absence of Kahui (hamstring) and Dagg (thigh) should not be decisive against Argentina, the weakest of the eight quarterfinalists and a team struggling to reach the giddy heights of their semifinal achievements at the 2007 World Cup.

But the All Blacks coaches would have desperately wanted to play their top 15 in this match to ensure continuity of combinations, and the two outside backs, both in-form men at this tournament, would certainly have slotted into that lineup.

1 of 36 PETER MEECHAM/Fairfax Media Cory Jane (second left), Richie McCaw and Liam Messam (right) congratulate Zac Guildford (left) on his second try. 2 of 36 Getty Images All Blacks captain Richie McCaw and Wallabies first five-eighth Quade Cooper square off. 3 of 36 Getty Images Mils Muliaina, on debut for the All Blacks in 2003, is pulled down by Ben Kay of England. England won the match 15-13. 4 of 36 Getty Images Richard McCaw, on debut for the All Blacks in 2001, runs at the defence against Ireland at Lansdowne Road. 5 of 36 BEN WATSON/North Shore Times The All Blacks boys are looking sharp in pinstripes (from left), Keven Mealamu, Mils Muliaina and captain Richie McCaw. 6 of 36 PETER MEECHAM/Stuff.co.nz RECOGNISED: All Blacks captain Richie McCaw (left) listens as teammate Mils Muliaina talks after the pair were recognised for setting a New Zealand test caps record on the recent Northern Hemisphere tour. 7 of 36 Getty Images Richie McCaw unveils the new uniform prior to the Tri-Nations match against the South Africa. 8 of 36 Getty Images Mils Muliaina and Keven Mealamu rehydrate during a game of touch frisbee at the All Blacks' first training session in South Africa ahead of their Tri-Nations match against the Springboks in 2003. 9 of 36 PETER MEECHAM/Fairfax Media Richie McCaw packs down during the All Blacks' test against England at Twickenham. 10 of 36 Getty Images Mils Muliaina is tackled in the air by Wallaby Wendell Sailor who was sin-binned for the incident in 2003. 11 of 36 Getty Images All Blacks captain Richie McCaw and coach Graham Henry front the media at a press conference after the team arrived home following their defeat to France in the Rugby World Cup 2007 quarterfinal in 2007. 12 of 36 Getty Images Doug Howlett, Joe Rokocoko and Mils Muliaina leave the field as the Wallabies celebrate after the final whistle during the All Blacks' 10-22 loss to Australia in the Rugby World Cup 2003 semifinal match at the Sydney Olympic Stadium. 13 of 36 Getty Images Richie McCaw wears an eye patch at All Blacks training at Stade Jean-Bouin in 2007 in Marseille. 14 of 36 Getty Images All Black Mils Muliaina kicks through while being tackled against England at Carisbrook in 2004. 15 of 36 Getty Images Richie McCaw is tackled by Lote Tuqiri of the Wallabies during their 2007 Tri-Nations match. 16 of 36 Getty Images All Black Mils Muliaina is tackled high by Brian Lima of the Pacific Islands at North Harbour Stadium in 2004. 17 of 36 Getty Images The back of Richie McCaw of the All Blacks shows a large cut during the Bledisloe Cup match in 2006 in Brisbane. 18 of 36 Getty Images Carl Hayman, Richie McCaw and Mils Muliaina perform the haka against Ireland at Lansdowne Road in 2005. 19 of 36 PETER MEECHAM/Fairfax Media Mils Muliaina leaves Chris Ashton sprawling during the All Blacks test against England at Twickenham. 20 of 36 Getty Images Prince William (R) shares a laugh with All Blacks (L-R) James Ryan, Richie McCaw, Chris Jack and Ali Williams in 2005 in Auckland. 21 of 36 Getty Images Richie McCaw, Doug Howlett, Ali Williams and captain Tana Umaga in the dressing room with the Dave Gallaher Cup following the All Blacks' 45-6 win over France at Stade de France in 2005. 22 of 36 Getty Images Richie McCaw is escorted from the field to the blood bin for the second time during the All Blacks' 29-9 win over South Africa in the quarterfinal of the Rugby World Cup in 2003. 23 of 36 Getty Images Byron Kelleher, Mils Muliaina and Rico Gear of the All Blacks celebrate with the Bledisloe Cup in 2006. 24 of 36 Getty Images Richie McCaw celebrates with the Tri-Nations trophy after the second Bledisloe Cup match in 2003. 25 of 36 Getty Images Mils Muliaina of New Zealand is stopped by Florian Fritz (L) and Yannick Jauzion (R) of France in 2006 in Paris. 26 of 36 Getty Images Richie McCaw leaves the field with a cut above his left eye during the Tri-Nations Bledisloe Cup match at Stadium Australia in 2002. 27 of 36 Getty Images Doug Howlett, Leon MacDonald, Jerry Collins, Keven Mealamu, Mils Muliaina, Steve Devine Richie McCaw, Chris Jack (obscured), Ali Williams, Justin Marshall, Greg Somerville and Aaron Mauger perform the Haka prior to the All Blacks' 29-9 win over South Africa in the quarterfinal Rugby World Cup 2003 match at the Telstradome. 28 of 36 Getty Images Luke McAlister, Mils Muliaina, Chris Jack and Rodney So'oialo during a World Cup training session in September in 2007 in Marseille. 29 of 36 Getty Images Yannick Jauzion of France celebrates scoring a try with team-mate Imanol Harinordoquy as Mils Muliaina of New Zealnd looks on in despair during the quarterfinal of the Rugby World Cup in 2007. 30 of 36 Getty Images Mils Muliaina celebrates scoring a try during the Investec Challenge match against England in 2008. 31 of 36 Getty Images Mils Muliaina (C) and Jerome Kaino (L) lead the haka against France at the Stade Velodrome in 2009 in Marseille. 32 of 36 MARK TAYLOR/Waikato Times All Blacks captain Richie McCaw on the charge. 33 of 36 PETER MEECHAM/Fairfax Media All Blacks Ma'a Nonu and Mils Muliaina clap the crowd after the final whistle. 34 of 36 PETER MEECHAM/Fairfax Media Isaia Toeava congratulates Mils Muliaina after he scored a try against Scotland. 35 of 36 Getty Images All Blacks fullback Mils Muliaina celebrates No 8 Kieran Read's match-winning try against Australia at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. 36 of 36 LAWRENCE SMITH/Fairfax Media Isaiah Toeava, Mils Muliaina and Ma'a Nonu don headwear at the All Blacks' official welcome.

The rest of the team takes care of itself.

As expected, captain Richie McCaw returns to the openside flank after issues with a much-publicised foot injury, while Piri Weepu gets the nod at halback with Colin Slade to fill Carter's rather large boots at first five-eighths.

Jimmy Cowan and Aaron Cruden, called into the squad this week as Carter's replacement, are on the bench as cover for the inside backs.

JASON OXENHAM/Fairfax Media SIDELINED STARS: The absence of injured pair Israel Dagg (L) and Zac Guildford means Sonny Bill Williams will make his first All Blacks test start on the wing in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals.

''There has been a real feeling of positive anticipation in the squad this week now that we have finished the pool play rounds and are into the quarterfinals,'' All Blacks coach Graham Henry said in naming the team.

''There is excitement amongst the team and we have had a good build-up on the North Shore this week, but there is also a realisation that this is sudden death, finals rugby.''

Henry had a special message for his 31-year-old fullback, who will join recent centurion McCaw as the only players to have notched 100 tests for the All Blacks.

''I want to congratulate Mils on this outstanding achievement,'' said Henry, who has known Muliaina since his schoolboy days.

''He is a special man and has been a world class All Black for many years - the consummate professional really - as well as a very influential member of the All Blacks leadership group.''

The All Blacks and Argentina have played each other 13 times with 12 wins to the All Blacks and the one draw.

The public consensus is the All Blacks will be far too good for the South Americans but Henry is aware of what can result from complacency at a World Cup, having presided over the quarterfinal defeat to France in Cardiff four years ago.

''We have the utmost respect for Argentina. They showed in their pool matches, especially against England and Scotland, just how physical their game is, especially at set piece and at the breakdown.''

Team:

Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sonny Bill Williams, Colin Slade, Piri Weepu, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (capt), Jerome Kaino, Brad Thorn, Sam Whitelock, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Andrew Hore, Ben Franks, Ali Williams, Victor Vito, Jimmy Cowan, Aaron Cruden, Isaia Toeava