Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says he decided to put Lachie Turner through his own somewhat unconventional fitness test before naming the winger in his squad to face New Zealand.

Deans said he gave Turner a dig in the ribs to see whether the No.14 was fit to return to face the All Blacks in the final Tri-Nations Test in Wellington on Saturday night.

Turner, and fellow injury concern, hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, have been named in an unchanged Wallabies squad that beat series champions the Springboks 21-6 in Brisbane a week and a half ago.

Utility back Kurtley Beale has been named as 23rd man as precautionary cover for Turner.

Deans said Turner and Polota-Nau completed training on Tuesday and proved they had suitably recovered from their rib injuries sustained during the Wallabies only win of the Tri-Nations.

“They just participated fully in training which had some contact elements,” Deans said on Tuesday.

“I also gave Lachie a little dig in the ribs, without any ball, just to check (if he’s ok).

“He took it pretty well, he reckoned it was the other side, he had a target on the other side just as a decoy.”

Turner said Deans’s shot was right on the money.

“He certainly did (get the right spot), he got it spot on,” Turner laughed.

“He was just mucking around after training and asked if anyone had given me a nudge, I told him that they hadn’t so he took it upon himself and came in with the shoulder.

“He got right on in there and really gave it a work out, but I got through it.

“I didn’t really know what to do, he’s my coach, I can’t really show any pain, I can’t let the coach know that he can hurt me (at any time), but I was pain free.”

Turner said despite Beale travelling with the squad as a precaution he was fully confident of playing against the All Blacks.

“If I had any pain and if I was still thinking about it whilst training and playing, I wouldn’t be going over,” Turner said.

“It’s not fair to the other guys for me to go dragging the team down, so I certainly wouldn’t be going if I had any fears.

“Robbie gave me the best shot he could and he couldn’t affect it, so hopefully that’s enough.”

Australia will be aiming to record back-to-back Tri-Nations victories when they take on the All Blacks, who enter the match on the back of a disappointing loss to the Springboks where they conceded Tri Nations honours.

Although New Zealand have already secured the Bledisloe Cup for the season, leading the four match series 2-0, Saturday’s match does have historical over-tones.

It will be the 500th game to be played by a side representing Australia in a Test match.

WALLABIES: James O’Connor, Lachie Turner, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Will Genia, George Smith (capt), David Pocock, Rocky Elsom, Mark Chisholm, James Horwill, Ben Alexander, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson. Res: Stephen Moore, Pek Cowan, Dean Mumm, Wycliff Palu, Luke Burgess, Quade Cooper, Peter Hynes

© AAP 2012

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