The naming of Chiefs' first-five Steven Donald in the pivot role ahead of Dan Carter for the final Bledisloe Cup test in Hong Kong has raised a few eyebrows. But the move shows that coach Graham Henry is preparing to unleash an attacking bombardment on the Wallabies.

With Donald slotting in at No.10, Carter is moved to inside centre, a position he has played at both Super 14 and international level with a great deal of success. The combination of Donald and Carter also gives the All Blacks a right or left-foot kicking option.

It's not just the great skill of these players in these positions, but the fact that the All Blacks now have two play-making options that signals a shift towards all-out attack. This particular set-up gives them the option to have a play-maker left and right on attacking scrums, or someone out wide who can set up the explosive backs outside them.

Carter admits the shift has been difficult to adjust to, particularly now as Donald will be calling the plays from the pivot position, leaving Carter with much less talking to do. "I've had to hold myself back a bit, it's something I've been working on all week," he said.

"I've had to sort of pull back from giving him feedback from set plays and let him run the ship," said Carter, who last started in midfield four years ago. "I have to sit back, he's more than capable and does it extremely well for the Chiefs and Waikato."

The main causalty of this shift is Ma'a Nonu, who played well at inside centre during the Tri-Nations, but is now relegated to the bench. Coach Henry has gone for just three back reserves, who can cover any backline position bar fullback, so Nonu is likely to see action at centre or wing, rather than his preferred inside centre.