New Zealand captain Richie McCaw has called on his players to rise to the occasion when they face France in the World Cup final in Auckland on Sunday.
The hosts are red-hot favourites to clinch the Webb Ellis trophy for the first time since 1987.
The All Blacks have won six matches in a row and beat the French 37-17 in the pool stages, but flanker McCaw is wary.
"It's about going out and performing, playing the best game we've ever played in a World Cup final," he said.
"That is the opportunity that is there, and from our point of view we don't want to let it slip by.
"You have got to produce the goods when it counts. I think a lot of the guys that have been around a while understand that."
But France wing Vincent Clerc says his side can shock the hosts again after causing upsets in 2007 and 1999.
"They have their reasons for being confident. Now maybe it is our turn to play our cards," he said.
"We are capable of playing the match we need to play and beating the All Blacks."
Clerc is a veteran of France's astonishing quarter-final victory over New Zealand in Cardiff in the tournament four years ago.
With the Toulouse man on the wing, France recovered from 10 points adrift at the break at the Millennium Stadium to sweep to a 20-18 victory and send the All Blacks plunging out of the tournament.
Another second-half comeback ended New Zealand's hopes in the semi-finals in 1999, while France won 27-22 in Dunedin in 2009.
"We know we can destabilise the All Blacks and we can do some exceptional things," Clerc added.
"We will have to put the heat on them and we will have to be extremely defensive in the way we were against the Welsh."
France's English defence coach David Ellis believes that despite a convincing 20-6 scoreline against Australia,there were weaknesses on display in the All Blacks' semi-final win.
"I watched the game and I was just expecting Australia to score and turn the game completely around. They didn't do it, mainly through their poor choices," he said.
"I think a lot of the choices they made in their attack were in the wrong areas of the field and they didn't disturb the All Blacks defence as they should have done."
An online bookmaker has already paid out on a New Zealand victory,but All Blacks head coach Graham Henry, who was in charge of the side at the last World Cup, is not taking anything for granted in his final match in charge.
"We have got to prepare that they're going to be the best in the world. They have certainly got the individuals to do that, it's just whether they can produce that as a side," he said.
"Their forward pack is probably as good a forward pack as we will play in this competition. Their scrum is very, very good, they've got a world-class loose forward trio and backs who can bite you."
Henry has selected a side containing 708 caps, with Keven Mealamu joining legend Sean Fitzpatrick as the All Blacks' most capped hooker in making his 92nd Test appearance.
Fly-half Aaron Cruden will be playing in only his ninth Test however, after being called up in the wake of star stand-off Dan Carter's groin injury.
"I have been really impressed with Aaron. He's been involved with the team all season, he's just slotted in nicely and he is making the most of his opportunity, which is awesome," said Carter.
But Carter, who has continued working with the squad, warned his team-mates to be prepared for France to raise their game once again.
"We have to expect the unexpected. The French are the best at doing something to surprise us, so the guys realise that we are in for a huge challenge."
New Zealand: Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Richard Kahui, Aaron Cruden, Piri Weepu; Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Owen Franks, Sam Whitelock, Brad Thorn, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (capt), Kieran Read.
Replacements: Andrew Hore, Ben Franks, Ali Williams, Adam Thomson, Andy Ellis, Stephen Donald, Sonny Bill Williams.
France: Maxime Médard, Vincent Clerc, Aurélien Rougerie Maxime Mermoz, Alexis Palisson, Morgan Parra, Dimitri Yachvili; Jean-Baptiste Poux, William Servat, Nicolas Mas, Pascal Papé, Lionel Nallet, Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Julien Bonnaire, Imanol Harinordoquy.
Replacements: Dimitri Szarzewski, Fabien Barcella, Julien Pierre, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Jean-Marc Doussain, François Trinh-Duc, Damien Traille.
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
