But that does not necessarily mean All Blacks are getting bogged down in negative thoughts. Centre Conrad Smith says the side needs to turn that pressure into an advantage.
"You acknowledge there is pressure. But there is pressure on them [the Wallabies]. Every team is feeling a bit of heat now," Smith said.
"But you've just got to deal with it. You've got to get excited abut it. It is a massive opportunity.That is what you play the game for. When we started this tournament, that is what we looking for.
"There have been a few injuries along the way. But this is where we have got to. We always knew we would meet Australia somewhere along the way and this is it. Everyone knows it is going to be a great game. All we can worry about is playing a good game and, if they do the same, it should be a goodie."
Smith, who celebrated his 30th birthday this week, looms as a key man at centre in a backline which contains five of this year's Hurricanes squad, which unravelled throughout the season. Inside him is Aaron Cruden, who is now at the Chiefs but played with Smith at the Hurricanes.
Smith has full confidence in the Manawatu pivot.
"He is in a good space at the moment. Perhaps when he came into the team last year, he put too much on himself. But he seems good this time and you could see that as soon as he came on against Argentina.
"New guys come into the side and they just do the same role, no matter who the personality is or who has the jersey on. We might adjust things to the opposition in terms of what they are doing. But in terms of who is in each position, they have a role to fulfil."
Smith will bring up his 54th cap against Australia tomorrow and is part of the senior leadership group in the All Blacks.
It was time for those in that group to put their best foot forward.
"Maybe the senior guys talk among themselves a bit more. In a high pressure situation, you just want to make sure everyone is travelling along fine. You don't want to rely on a coach all the time. They are not going to be on the field when the real heat comes on.
"So hopefully the guys who have been around a while will pick up things throughout the week and will make sure that everything is going all right."
Playing in front of a patriotic crowd was great, Smith said, but it did not help put points on the board.
"It is basic skills and basic things which win a rugby game."
The support had been amazing throughout the country and he hoped it continued.
One thing the team had to get its head around was the 9pm kick-off.
"It takes a bit to get used to. I'd say 7.30pm is a long enough day and 8.30pm was getting pretty stupid and now it is 9pm.
"You just have got to get used to it. We train a bit later in the day. Some guys treat it differently. Some guys go and meet family, get out of the hotel early. But it should not be too much of a problem."