Davies wary of new-look New Zealand

8:41 AM GMT

Wales centre Jonathan Davies was delighted to see the back of the New Zealand centre pairing of Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith at the end of the 2015 World Cup.

But Davies believes that whoever takes their place in the New Zealand midfield this month will be just as good, even though Nonu and Smith played 61 Tests together and appeared in two World Cup finals.

They were part of the retiring class after the World Cup triumph over Australia at Twickenham, leaving the Welsh duo of Davies and Jamie Roberts to take over their mantle as the most experienced midfield pair in the world game.

Davies and Roberts hope to line up alongside each other for the 45th time in a Welsh international -- they also played once together for the British & Irish Lions in Australia in 2013 -- in the first Test against the world champions in Auckland on Saturday.

"I played against Nonu a few weeks ago in France. He and Conrad Smith were a great partnership, probably the best I've seen in my time, and what they achieved was pretty special. But we know that whoever steps into their jerseys now will be just as good," Davies said.

"I grew up watching Nonu and Smith play together and I tried to see why they were so good and then to emulate them when I got to that level. I can also remember watching the late, great Jonah Lomu.

"The All Blacks have always been the team you want to play against and to face the Haka. It is always an occasion, one you have to enjoy and thrive on, and we want to win the series -- that's what we have come here for.

"When you look at the two squads we have got a lot of midfield experience, and probably win the battle on caps. But the players involved in the New Zealand set-up have been in World Cup winning squads before.

"It's going to be a tough task for us, but we are very confident. We are a settled team and the boys who played against England will be much better for their hit-out - that game should help us going into the first Test.

"We don't know who they are going to pick at this stage and they could go with Ben Smith at centre and Israel Dagg at full-back. It is something we are looking at, we are preparing as best we can.

"We have to make sure that when we get the ball we are accurate and we use it effectively. You don't get many opportunities playing against the All Blacks and when they come you've got to take them."

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen is deliberating on who to use to fill his centre positions. Ryan Crotty and Malakai Fekitoa are the favourites to join forces in a new midfield partnership for the world champions.

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Davies wary of new-look New Zealand