The All Blacks are gearing up for a contest that has been four years in the making, when they finally clash with England at Twickenham as part of their northern tour on Sunday morning.
Assistant coach Ian Foster told media today the team was eager to face off with England for a number of reasons.
"It's a massive opportunity for us to see how good we prepare for yet another big game - that's what we're focusing on," he said.
"The good thing about this game is there's a lot of talk about it, there's a lot of hype about it and they're the occasions that really test you as a unit.
"England play a different style to us, largely, and we're going to get that at the World Cup so it's just another thing we can expose ourselves to and see how we adjust and for a number of players, it's a new experience because they're not a regular opponent for us."
Foster added while the Test is an important chance to impress on the international stage, it won't reflect heavily on their progress towards next year's World Cup.
"I don't really think it's relevant at all from what's going to happen at a World Cup.
"If you look through the history of World Cups and the way that it works is that you've got to peak in the that two-month period next year."
The last time the two nations met in 2014, the All Blacks earned a narrow 24-21 win at Twickenham. The last time England won a Test was two years prior at the same venue with a convincing 38-21 victory.
Sunday's Test kicks off at 4am NZT.
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