As the forward packs slug it out for set piece ascendancy, the battle of the No 10s again holds much of the intrigue as the Tri-Nations title goes on the line at a sold out Suncorp Stadium.
Carter was a dominant figure in New Zealand's season-turning 39-10 win at Eden Park last month and will cast an imposing shadow over Saturday's events.
The heat is more on Giteau, in his first season as a regular international No 10, after the Wallabies' 53-8 hiding by the Springboks.
There's also the fact coach Robbie Deans hasn't named a specialist first five-eighth replacement on his bench, leaving captain Stirling Mortlock to slot in if Giteau gets hurt.
"Every game you generally think most teams will be targeting me and I don't think this week will be any different," Giteau said.
"Any ball that they get they might run it down my channel, but it's a test match, I won't be going out there in a dinner suit. If you're out there you've got to make your tackles.
"It's what we expect. With the big centres that they've got, you'd like to think a lot of traffic would be going my way.
"Vice-versa, we've got big centres and back rowers as well so there'll be a bit of traffic going Dan's way as well. "
Both sides have predicted another game of aerial ping-pong as kickers look for field position, fearful of being caught in possession in their own half and handing momentum to the attacking side.
Giteau watched Carter in annoyance and a touch of awe in Auckland as the All Blacks turned around a 19-34 defeat in Sydney before nailing Tri-Nations favouritism with a 19-0 win over South Africa.
"The game was well controlled by Dan, once they got on the front foot he was able to kick well and control field position. That was the biggest thing I learned.
"Throughout the whole Tri-Nations kicking's been a huge part of every team's gameplan. Whoever executes it the best generally wins. "
All Blacks attack coach Wayne Smith denied Giteau would be singled out, but admitted the chance to knock the gifted pivot off his game wouldn't be missed.
"He's played a lot of tests against us and he's never been a target, he's just a good player," Smith said.
"You want him to be busy and you want him making decisions but he's not a player you'd say we're going to target him. He's in the top-two in the world in his position. "
World Cups aside, Saturday is as big as it gets for the All Blacks as they try to retain the Bledisloe Cup for a fifth consecutive year after reclaiming it in 2003.
It will make it the second-longest Bledisloe Cup tenure, beating the four defences of the Wallabies from 1999-2002 and the All Blacks from 1988-1991.
The record is a huge 11 defences by the All Blacks during their infrequent tussles with an inferior Australian side between 1951 and 1978, before the Wallabies won it back in 1979 to revive interest in the trans-Tasman battle.
"It is a big game and in terms of trophies the Bledisloe Cup is massive between the two countries, plus the Tri-Nations. There's a bit of pressure on," Smith said.
"I wouldn't say it's the biggest of all time, but it's right up there."
