"But World Cup rugby pays no respect to history or to emotion. We have selected a team to win this Test match," he said.
The x-factor at the Millennium Stadium in favor of the Welsh is the 72,000-strong crowd, which will be brimming with local supporters in full voice.
France did a deal with the Welsh and Scottish unions when it submitted its bid to host this year's tournament, and both nations get key home matches as a consequence.
"The fact that the match is being played in Cardiff is a huge factor,"Larkham said. "The World Cup is meant to be in France -- to play Wales at home is a totally different game to playing them away."
Wales held Australia to a 29-all draw in Cardiff last year, after an upset win at home in 2005.
Connolly said those results should be viewed in perspective.
"That was an experimental tour -- 28 or 29 players ran through the four northern Tests," he said. "I think we're a fair bit of the way down the road and our form in the Tri-Nations showed that."
The key to the match will be in the forward exchanges. Both teams rate their chances in the backs, where Australia has the most experienced combination and Wales one of the most dangerous.
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