All Blacks flyhalf Colin Slade is studying Wallabies magician Quade Cooper in an effort to better understand the best way to stop the unpredictable playmaker from breaching the New Zealand defence.

Dan Carter is likely to wear the No.10 jersey for the All Blacks on Saturday, but his understudy Slade has been running drills against the star pivot while mimicking Cooper.

Cooper holds the key to the Wallaby attack and can be lethal given an space to launch an ostentatious move from nowhere.

"Essentially, I've done my homework and I've just got to keep the boys honest and try and prepare them for the Australian attack, that's part of my job," Slade told ONE Sport.

"We're just going on trends that players show over the Super season so it's coming along pretty well and hopefully we'll be ready for their wee tricks."

Australia's style of play is vastly different from that of the Springboks, with the creative Cooper pulling the strings the All Blacks are leaving nothing to chance.

"I suppose they bring a different dimension than perhaps the South Africans and we have to be on our toes to mark up against the likes of Quade Cooper and Will Genia running around the fringes," Slade said.

"You've just got to be prepared, you can't knock off on the inside, you've got to expect the unexpected from him (Cooper) and every now and then he pulls out that little piece of magic."

However, how the Wallaby pivot is deployed on defence will also interest the All Blacks following the tactic of Digby Ioane covering flyhalf on defence against the Springboks to protect Cooper's frailties in that department.

It is expect that the tactic will be used once again this weekend, allowing Cooper to mount his dazzling counter attacks from deep if there is a turnover.