Wallabies back Anthony Faingaa says that he is excited about facing the Rugby World Cup winning New Zealand All Blacks midfield should he find himself back at inside centre for the start of the inaugural four-nation Rugby Championship.

The Reds defensive centre is back in line to start at start at inside centre for the first Rugby Championship match against New Zealand in Sydney after Brumbies centre Pat McCabe injured his leg and was ruled out for the first two matches.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans could choose to move Berrick Barnes to inside centre and play Quade Cooper at 10 but he will most likely prefer to go with a direct No.12 rather than a player like Barnes who has moved around the backline.

Faingaa's only start at inside centre was against New Zealand in August 2010 but spent Friday running in that position in the Wallabies training camp.

Faingaa missed seven weeks of rugby due to a foot injury but said that he was fully fit having helped the Reds surge towards the play offs.

If Faingaa is selected to start he is likely to go up against Ma'a Nonu and Sonny Bill Williams after Conrad Smith was ruled out

"They will definitely pose a great threat to us," Faingaa said of Nonu and Williams to AAP.

"You've got to look at guys like Dan Carter, Richie McCaw and Kieran Read, so they've just got a fantastic team.

"It's just not going to be just the Ma'a Nonu and SBW show."

When asked about how the Wallabies could stop Williams from offloading Faingaa said, "I think still low, but your second man has to be over the top quicker.

"I think both players, Sonny Bill and Ma'a Nonu, have got great leg speed, great passing and all the abilities.

"For us as a team, us as a backline, it's going to be a big task and something we'll look forward to."

Faingaa added that the All Blacks losing Smith was a big blow for the New Zealanders.

"I think Conrad is a big part of their team and culture," Faingaa said.

"Obviously, Conrad has been around for a long time, so he does the things that you don't really see, the kick chases, the little things at the breakdown.

"Making one-on-one tackles, scrapping the ball up and all the one per centers, so he's definitely going to be a really big loss for them and I think it's a great opportunity for us to play the All Blacks without him."