Sharpe: Knows what to expect against Argentina

But Sharpe is wary of the Pumas ahead of their Rugby Championship match at Skilled Park, Robina, as they hope to build on their 26-19 win against South Africa last week.

"The main memory I do have is the unorthodox method in which they play," said Sharpe, who is the only Australian player to have faced Argentina before.

"They're a very passionate team and it's something that's been identified in the first games of the Rugby Championship and one that you look at in every World Cup, they're always competitive due to that spirit."

After watching their opponents push the All Blacks hard for 60 minutes before eventually fading to lose 21-5, as well as holding the Springboks to a 16-16 draw in Mendoza last month, Sharpe remains cautious.

He added: "The thing about them as a team is they play well as a team. They don' generally have a consistent stand-out, they just perform well and put in for each other and that's what makes them a dangerous team.

"You talk about their defence and all the rest of it, it's not always the most structured but it's frenetic."

The tourists, advised by former New Zealand coach Graham Henry, are desperate to score an historic tournament win which would also be their first triumph on Australian soil in 29 years.

Despite being the underdogs, Argentina believe the injury-plagued Australia are vulnerable without half-back Will Genia, who injured his knee last weekend, and Perth man-of-the-match Sitaleki Timani.

But Sharpe expects replacements Nick Phipps and Kane Douglas to respond along with the rest of the team.

"It's good for the team because people have to step up," he said. "When you are faced with a situation generally that's when things come to the fore.

"When there's a need for it then people step up and I'm looking forward to seeing that happen on the weekend.

"It's not just about Phippsy coming in and playing well, it's about everyone else fulfilling an extra one or two per cent of a role that they may not naturally do when Will's there and the result could be surprising."

Argentina's coach Santiago Phelan has made two changes to his backline for Saturday's clash.

Half-back Nicolas Vergallo and full-back Martin Rodriguez were dropped in favour of Martin Landajo and Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.

Vice-captain Patricio Albacete, a stand-out in the Argentine second-row, will earn his 50th cap, facing Sharpe who will make his 109th appearance.

Australia: 15 Berrick Barnes, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Radike Samo, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Nathan Sharpe (capt), 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Tatafu Polota Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore/Saia Fainga'a, 17 James Slipper, 18 Scott Higginbotham, 19 Liam Gill, 20 Brett Sheehan, 21 Anthony Fainga'a, 22 Kurtley Beale.

Argentina: 15 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, 14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Santiago Fernandez, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Juan Martin Hernandez, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (capt), 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 6 Julio Faras Cabello, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Eusebio Guinazu, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 18 Leonardo Senatore, 19 Tomas Leonardi, 20 Nicolas Vergallo, 21 Martin Rodriguez, 22 Juan Imhoff.