NEW Zealand Maori coach Donny Stevenson has targeted Australia A's potent midfield "Maori connection" of Morgan Turinui and Timana Tahu as the biggest threat to his side in the Pacific Nations Cup decider at Sydney Football Stadium today.

Australia A hold a two-point lead over the Maori heading into the final-round clash of the two unbeaten sides in the six-team tournament.

Stevenson described the Australians as "pretty clinical" and said they played to their strengths, especially their classy backline.

"They've got a Maori midfield there with Tahu and Turinui and they've got penetration out wide," Stevenson said. "They've been playing very good for the balance of games and using their loose forwards.

"It's going to be a real exciting game because we want to play with a bit of width. We back our backs, we've got very mobile loose forwards, so I think it's going to be an intriguing battle."

Stevenson said former league star Tahu looked hungry after recently returning from a hamstring injury which sidelined him for much of the Super 14 tournament.

"He looks like he's adapted well to the midfield and he's formed quite a potent combination with Turinui," Stevenson said.

"The biggest threat is going to be the Maori connection."

Australia have scored almost twice as many tries as the Maori and Stevenson said his team's attack had been "a bit scratchy", apart from its last match against Japan.

"Leading into that game we played very well defensively - we only had one try scored against us in the previous three games - but against Japan we leaked three tries in the first half," Stevenson said.

"Luckily our attack came right and we managed to put on 60-odd points.

"We've talked about the need to get all facets of our game right if we are going to have any chance against Australia."

Stevenson is sweating on the fitness of Glen Horton(hamstring strain). However, centre Tim Bateman and five-eighth Willie Ripia are available after each missed the Japan fixture with a hamstring injury.

The only other health worry for the Maori is prop Ben May, who is building up his strength and weight after a viral complaint kept him in bed for the best part of a week.

Stevenson felt the Australians' execution rather than the under-strength nature of their opponents was the reason for their blow-out wins against Tonga and Fiji in the past two weeks. "Australia just put points on early and some of those teams, when they are out of the hunt, tend to fold," Stevenson said.