Dave Rennie insists Australia "know the enemy" but are not playing the underdogs tag this week as they prepare for Saturday night's big clash with Ireland.
Rennie has named close to a full strength side for the Autumn series showdown at the Aviva Stadium, where the hosts are hoping to equal a record 12th successive home win that was set during Joe Schmidt's reign.
But the Wallabies head coach started the week on the back foot after facing a barrage of criticism for the display against Italy in Florence, with the Azzurri beating Australia for the first time.
That came on the back of the Wallabies coming within two minutes of beating France in Paris, and Rennie has reverted back to the core of that line-up, with 10 changes made from last week.
Ireland are favourites heading into this one and Rennie said: "I think everyone likes being an underdog but we haven't used that term.
"We know we're playing an outstanding side and we're going to have to be at our best.
"We've had a massive focus on us. You can show a lot of footage of how good they are but I'm not sure that's going to help us.
"So we know the enemy, but it's important that we're really clear on the type of game we need to play to try and put them under pressure."
Rennie, who previously managed Glasgow Warriors, developed a good relationship with Leinster head coach Leo Cullen during that spell - having first met the Wicklow man when he was on a fact-finding mission with the Chiefs as he was starting his coaching career.
Cullen and Rennie met for a cup of tea yesterday but the Aussie insists no state secrets were revealed.
"Every time we played, whether it was here or in Glasgow, we'd catch up for a coffee or a beer or a meal the night before. It was good to have a chat with him yesterday and pick his brains," he said.
"But he didn't tell us anything that would help us on Saturday."
As he had done during a Leinster press conference at the start of the week, Cullen spoke of the damage that Wallabies forward Will Skelton has done to Leinster over a number of Champions Cup campaigns with Saracens and then La Rochelle.
Nevertheless Skelton is on the bench for this encounter.
Rennie said: "He mentioned what a thorn in the side Will had been.
"But look, we're well aware of that, he's a big man, he bullies big men, so his impact is going to come off the bench and obviously the plan is to try and finish strong and finish over the top and he'll be an important part of that."
The Wallabies supremo was quick to praise Ireland under Andy Farrell.
"Yeah, certainly Ireland are playing a bit more footy - the short passing game, the ability to pick off teams," Rennie said.
"If you try to fill the field, their ability to take inside shoulders and force defenders to make decisions, they are excellent at it.
"They've got key people in key positions who are influential, so Ireland have been very good.
"Their only loss recently has been against France, who we know are pretty strong, so they've been excellent under Andy.
"Look, I know a lot of their players. Yeah, we're well aware of their strengths and we have to try to put a bit of heat on them and create opportunities for ourselves.
"But obviously having a little bit of prior knowledge helps.
"Ireland are an excellent side. They are very well coached and have a lot of experience, a lot of guys who have played 30 plus Tests and probably had five years of club footy, which is probably 150 games-plus.
"Obviously we have to put them under pressure, obviously (Johnny) Sexton is massive for them, Jamison Gibson-Park, I assume he'll start and he has been excellent for them.
"They are a high quality side and we're going to have to be at our best."
Wallabies team
1. James Slipper (c) (125 Tests)
2. David Porecki (9 Tests)
3. Allan Alaalatoa (62 Tests)
4. Nick Frost (7 Tests)
5. Cadeyrn Neville (6 Tests)
6. Jed Holloway (8 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (123 Tests)
8. Rob Valetini (29 Tests)
9. Nic White (58 Tests)
10. Bernard Foley (75 Tests)
11. Tom Wright (21 Tests)
12. Hunter Paisami (23 Tests)
13. Len Ikitau (24 Tests)
14. Mark Nawaqanitawase (1 Test)
15. Andrew Kellaway (20 Tests)
Replacements
16. Folau Fainga’a (36 Tests)
17. Tom Robertson (29 Tests)
18. Taniela Tupou (46 Tests)
19. Will Skelton (23 Tests)
20. Pete Samu (31 Tests)
21. Jake Gordon (18 Tests)
22. Noah Lolesio (16 Tests)
23. Jordan Petaia (23 Tests)
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