Berrick Barnes may be young, inexperienced and by some standards a 'slender' frame. However, the 22-year-old Wallaby centre has a huge heart.

Barnes, who will only just reach double figures in Test caps when Australia face New Zealand in a Tri-Nations/Bledisloe Cup double header in Auckland on Saturday, is ready for a brutal battering from the All Blacks.

Having played a key role in Australia's 34-19 demolition of the Kiwis in Sydney last week, the Wallaby midfield star expects the Kiwis to "target" him.

"I know this is probably going to be the toughest match physically I've every encountered and we know they are going to come at us," Barnes told AAP.

He expected New Zealand's 104 kilogram wrecking ball, centre Ma'a Nonu, to lead the charge on him.

"No doubt they are going to be attacking that area, again coming at me through probably Nonu and that's why they selected him again there," Barnes said.

All Black coach Graham Henry also hinted that they may pay some special attention to Barnes because of perceived chinks in his armour — outside his kicking game.

However, Barnes felt he had things to offer that Nonu can't.

"We have different skill sets," Barnes said.

"There's other parts of my game, obviously the passing I've got to be a lot better with, I know I've got things to learn from."

Asked how he went about trying to halt a rampaging Nonu, who is listed as being 17 kilos heavier than him, a laconic Barnes joked "go low and hope for the best, mate."

365