It's taken Dylan Pietsch four Wallabies caps to divulge his initial thoughts ahead of a first Test run-on spot against the All Blacks on Saturday.

"I'm feeling on top of the world," Pietsch's said when speaking with National Indigenous Times.

Pietsch has every reason to feel elated after days earlier tackling New Zealand for the first time – an experience the Wiradjuri man called "something of a dream" – after facing up to a traditional Māori Haka that Pietsch said is "probably up there" with his greatest life accomplishment.

Collectively the Australians may be bitterly disappointed to fall 31-28 to New Zealand in last week's opening Bledisloe Cup Test match, but Pietsch contributed late to suppressing the early 21-0 scoreline towards an 18-point turnaround over the remaining 65 minutes of the clash.

"It was definitely intense for sure, but I think we realised how good we can be when we just express ourselves – that was probably the biggest thing," Pietsch said.

The converted winger fell back into his old flanker habits, fiercely contesting a number of All Blacks rucks, preventing a counterattack in return while at one stage getting on the end of a running play and the ensuing ball movement to the left, which almost resulted in the 26-year-old crossing over for his first Wallabies try.

After coming off the reserves bench in the 62nd minute against the New Zealanders in Sydney and making his best impact in his short career so far, the novelty of playing for the national team is yet to wear off.

Pietsch, who grew up in Leeton 550 kilometres from Sydney, said being in the battle against Australia's historic rivals has also given him an opportunity to watch Test rugby union from the "best seats in the house" by virtue of playing.

"I always wanted to go to a Bledisloe, but never could afford it really growing up," he said.

"But I have now played in one and I get to start in another one."

Not only did Pietsch retain his position in the 23-man squad on Saturday after failing to play back-to-back Tests across Australia's eight appearances this home season, the 15th Indigenous Wallaby ever will replace Marika Koroibete – the left winger that his successor has modelled his game style on.

Koroibete has struggled throughout the Rugby Championship campaign since completing his lucrative Japanese club season in July that also includes the Bledisloe Cup series, with Australian coach Joe Schmidt ruling out the Fijian flyer during the week after the 59-Test veteran was unable to get through training in Wellington.

Pietsch will join famous names to wear a No.11 jersey, including celebrated Indigenous icon Lloyd McDermott back in 1962, but also modern Wallabies greats and World Cup winners, David Campese and Joe Roff.

"You're always trying to get a start every time, but you obviously understand what Marika has done in the past because he's been such a great player," Pietsch said.

"So to get the opportunity against them (the All Blacks) to start is one of the best (opportunities) I've had in my life.

"When I first started playing wing three years ago, it is crazy to think that I based most of my whole game on Marika, and his effort areas and what he does behind the scenes.

"To be in the camp with him last year and this year to learn off of him was pretty cool.

"He doesn't really talk much but when he does, everyone listens because he's got such a good brain about rugby.

"He earns everyone's respect for his efforts and that's what I've trying to be my whole career, and I am going on keep on doing that for him."

Pietsch recognises the role the left winger has on Saturday against the All Blacks will be vastly different to his previous three Tests of slotting and adjusting to what the team needs partway through the match.

The closest to a full game the new Western Force signing has experienced was the 56 minutes that he played against South Africa in his second Test appearance in Brisbane, after replacing injured winger Filipo Daugunu.

"The bench has always got a job to do it provides some energy and it tries to fuel the game, so when you come on, you seamlessly go on and that's hard to do, but it's something I have worked hard on," Pietsch said.

Pietsch's fresh legs as a reserve has allowed the ball-playing back to play more physical like a loose forward.

Considering that is a big part of his Australian sevens game before debuting in Super Rugby in 2022, Pietsch has no intention of changing his approach to confront the All Blacks at the colloquially-named Cake Tin.

"Being in that contact area is something I really pride myself in and, I supposed, in Test footy, there's a lot that I am really enjoying," he said.

"So I'm feeling a lot more comfortable at this level and mentally, I'm feeling quite comfortable as I am physically, so it's about getting more something caps under the belt, I suppose."

While Pietsch is the only Indigenous Australian in the Wallabies side, props Taniela Tupou and Isaac Kailea (Tongan), five-eighth Noah Lolesio of dual (Samoan/Niuean), openside flanker Rob Valentini (Fijian), centre pairing Hunter Paisami and Len Itkau (Samoan), loose forward-come-No.8 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and prop Allan Alaalatoa (also Samoan), have been included in Australia's 23-man playing squad.