Argentina take extra motivation into Saturday night’s Rugby Championship clash with Australia as they aim to celebrate vice-captain Patricio Albacete 50th Test with an historic victory.

France-based Albacete has stamped himself as one of the best second-rowers in international rugby at the past two World Cups and the Pumas are desperate to reward the towering lock at Skilled Park.

Such has been the 31-year-old’s influence for Argentina, fellow forward Marcos Ayerza believes he will go down with the legendary flyhalf Hugo Porta as one of the country’s greatest players of all time.

“In achievements, I think he’s been the best forward player in our history,” prop Ayerza said. “I think we will see this in five years’ time. He’s been our talisman.

“He performs week in and week out for the Pumas.

“He’s an inspiration for us; he leads by example and he shows the way.

“It will be a huge motivation to play in his 50th Test.”

Considering the Pumas have only played five or six Tests most years until now, a half-century of international caps is a major milestone.

Ironically, Albacete made his World Cup debut against the Wallabies way back in 2003 opposing another young lock playing his first game in the tournament.

Now Nathan Sharpe is lining up for his 109th cap and will captain Australia in his home town.

Sharpe remarked Albacete epitomised the Pumas as a passionate, powerful and confrontational lock.

“The thing about them as a team is they play well as a team,” he said. “They don’t generally have a consistent stand-out, they just perform well and put in for each other and that’s what makes them a dangerous team.”