The hosts cruised to a 42-10 victory in Auckland last weekend but McCaw warned they should prepare for an Irish improvement in the second clash between the two on Saturday.
He said: "We had a good look at how it went, we were pretty happy with a lot of it, but if you thought you'd got it sorted, you'll come unstuck.
"There is quite a few areas we need to be better, we made a few mistakes, turned the ball over at times and if we get them right we'll hopefully have a lift in performance because there's no doubt the Irish will be better for that run and we're going to have to make sure we are as well.
"You've got to make sure you go back to the start and prepare like you did last week and iron out the things perhaps we didn't have time to do and hopefully that will mean a lift in the intensity and also the accuracy."
Christchurch will host its first Test since 2010 when the first of a series of crippling earthquakes struck the Canterbury region.
And McCaw was looking forward to what could prove an emotional night at AMI Stadium.
"Looking at the big picture, (the fact) people get the chance to come and watch the All Blacks play in Christchurch is pretty significant really," he said.
"It will be nice running out here, there is a pretty cool atmosphere here and it will be nice to have the home fans in behind us.
"The atmosphere we have experienced here with the Crusaders before has been pretty cool and I'm sure it will be the same tomorrow.
"We went for a drive through town on the way here and I think guys, even myself, hadn't been through there properly (and) you realise the significance of what's happened here."
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