What the All Blacks are lacking in experience they will make up for with form players and pure excitement.

That is the feeling of All Black backs coach Wayne Smith, who says expectations on the side selected to play France on Saturday night have not been lowered despite its relative inexperience.

France are eyeing the All Blacks as ripe for the picking at Carisbrook, intent on making the most of the absence of seasoned pros such as Richie McCaw, Daniel Carter, Rodney So'oialo, Ali Williams and Conrad Smith.

Wayne Smith said there was little doubting the squad named for the opening match of the Iveco Series was one of the rawest selected by the current coaching trio.

However, he said what was expected from the men in black.

"We have a lot of players out, clearly with injury," Smith said.

"But if you look at the team, most of them are form players from the Rebel Sport Super 14.

"There are some who we picked on what we know they can do.

"But most of these players are form players. They are young, but they are good.

"And our expectations are the same for any other All Back, and that is to put it on the track on Saturday night.

"Given some coaching time with all these guys, I think we are confident we can get this team up for scratch."

What awaits on Saturday night is a testing start to the international calendar for 2009.

The French dwarf the All Blacks in experience stakes.

While France will be without players involved in last weekend's Top 14 final, they are still set to field close to their best combination.

Smith said the defections which had hit the All Blacks had added another challenge to what was always a testing first week of the international season.

However, he said the professionalism and energy exhibited by the All Blacks' growing number of test rookies had aided the side's build-up to the Carisbrook showdown.

"The first week of a test series, or the first week of the year for us, is always difficult," he said.

"It is quite complex; you have three enthusiastic coaches who haven't coached for a while who tend to overload the players, then you have players coming from long Super 14 campaigns.

"We have tried to be a bit smarter with the way we have handled this year. We probably always make errors with our preparation.

"The point I am trying to get through is that it is quite a complex week. And having new players probably makes it more exciting if anything; it doesn't make it any more difficult."