New Zealand centre Richard Kahui is still buzzing ahead of his Tri-Nations debut on Saturday - but admits he is disappointed not to be lining up opposite Australia captain Stirling Mortlock.

Mortlock has been ruled out of the Bledisloe Cup showdown after failing to recover from a head injury, which he sustained against South Africa.

"He was the best centre when I was coming through and was someone I always looked up to and I tried to model a little bit of my game around the way he plays," Kahui said. "So for him not to be there is a bit disappointing, but it's not going to dampen my excitement for the game."