Steve Hansen wants his All Blacks to exit stage right from the Tokyo Stadium on Saturday - sending Ireland home from the World Cup in the process.
Speaking at his team announcement earlier today, Hansen delivered a Pink Panther analogy in describing the sudden death nature facing both sides this weekend.
While Ireland have never won a World Cup quarter-final, the All Blacks haven't lost one since they were upset by France in 2007.
Hansen said: "Well, one team is probably thinking it’s their turn to win one but that doesn’t guarantee it, does it?
"With that comes pressure but both teams are in the same situation.
"Come the final whistle, one will go right and one will go left, as the Pink Panther said.
"Stage right would be the way to go. We all understand that."
Like Joe Schmidt, Hansen will be leaving his post after his squad's World Cup involvement ends, but the 60-year-old claims that isn't in his thoughts this week.
He added: "I caught up with Andy Farrell yesterday and had a yarn with him and in that conversation that was brought up, that one of us will be going home - but that's just the cold, hard facts about the World Cup.
"We have experienced it ourselves in '07 and there's no guarantees we won't experience it again.
"Ireland are in a situation where they haven't gone past a quarter-final so they will be doing their darnedest not to go home.
"You just hope it's a good a game that is not affected by cards and at the end of it no-one has got any excuses. You just have to take your fate on the chin."
The main talking point of Hansen's team selection is him going with the centre partnership of Anton Linenert-Brown and Jack Goodhue.
Sonny Bill Williams provides cover from the bench, but Ryan Crotty misses out altogether.
In another tight call, Dane Coles loses out in the battle for the hooker position to Codie Taylor, while Jordie Barrett gets the nod ahead of veteran Ben Smith to provide backline cover.
As expected, Richie Mo'unga remains at no 10, with Beauden Barrett continuing at full-back.
Hansen has been in the hot-seat for four previous meetings with Ireland - and only has a 50 per cent success rate.
Asked what quality is at the top of the list of attributes this Ireland team possesses, Hansen gave a considered answer. "They're tenacious," he stated.
"They play a structured game that they know they're good at.
"They don't wander too far off the script and they’re not a team that give you a lot of opportunities through mistakes and they're pretty good at keeping the ball.
"When they kick it, they kick it to put pressure on your rather than give you a free shot. So you just have to adapt and adjust with what is happening in the game.
"We have made a lot of changes since we last played them, so we'll see how it goes."
And while Ireland have had some gripes with referees over the last few weeks, Hansen insists he is not focusing on the appointment of Nigel Owens as the man in the middle for Saturday.
"Watch out for his sense of humour, he’s pretty good with the one-liners," he quipped.
"I think you’re focusing on all the wrong things if you’re worrying about what the referee is going to do.
"He’s got his idiosyncrasies. We know them, Ireland know them, but what I like Nigel is he’s shown over the years that he’s good under pressure.
"It’s going to be a big pressure game so we wouldn’t want anyone else.
"We’re happy we’ve got him for this occasion. Just adapt and adjust as we go".
NEW ZEALAND: B Barrett, S Reece, J Goodhue, A Lienert-Brown, G Bridge, R Mo'unga, A Smith; J Moody, C Taylor, N Laulala, B Retallick, S Whitelock, A Savea, S Cane, K Read.
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