The challenge may not be the same as playing South Africa or Australia but the internal pressure to perform will be just as great for New Zealand when they take on Italy on Saturday.

New Zealand assistant coach Wayne Smith revealed there had been no let up in training this week with sessions aimed at replicating the intensity of a match as they try to get the newer members of the group up to speed with what is required at international level.

"We reached a physical level last week that was up to the mark and we want to try and build on that," he explained. "That's the important thing for this group. The young guys have come to understand what the level is so it would be wrong to relax now and drop our standards."

While Italy are expected to test the All Blacks up front, the reality is they should not really trouble a side that on average scores 10 tries a Test against them.

But Smith was adamant complacency would not set in.

"I don't think anyone was really happy with the performances against France. The level of intensity came up. But, for example, I think our attack only went from a three to a four out of 10 which is not a hell of a high," he said.

"We've got a lot of pressure on ourselves to make the improvements."

For some of the more experienced players such as wing Joe Rokocoko and centre Isaia Toeava, the pressure to perform is even more marked after disappointing performances in the opening two Tests of the season.

Rokocoko, who has scored 43 tries in 54 internationals, has not touched down in his last seven Tests and with Cory Jane showing promise on the wing against the French and Sitiveni Sivivatu close to a return from a shoulder injury time would appear to be running out for the 26-year-old Blues wing, particularly with the Tri-Nations series looming.

"I think a lot of people are on trial. That's the nature of the beast. There's probably an uncomfortable feeling for a lot of players," he said. "We don't actually come out and say 'you have got to nail this opportunity'. But there is an inherent understanding that this is the opportunity and that if players are going to make their mark it's got to be now."