Mortlock was in Melbourne on Thursday for the unveiling of the red, white and blue playing strip the new side will wear when they join the expanded Super 15 rugby competition next year.

The 33-year-old missed selection for the current Tri-Nations series, including Saturday night's clash with New Zealand at Etihad Stadium, after undergoing back surgery nine weeks ago.

His swansong 2010 Super season with the Brumbies, after playing 117 matches with the franchise since 1998, was severely hampered by the injury.

Despite his age, injury, and joining an untried Super franchise that has been criticised for its veteran-heavy playing roster, Mortlock remained hopeful of adding to his 80 Test caps and lining up for his third World Cup, to be played in New Zealand next year.

"I think the team that we've assembled down here will definitely be competitive," he said.

"I like to give my heart and soul to the team that I'm playing for and I think if I do that and do that consistently and we're winning matches than hopefully I'll be back in that squad.

"I'll certainly be focused on playing as well as I can for the Rebels and then hopefully things will take care of themselves from there."

The Rebels strip and team song was presented at the Weary Dunlop rugby lunch in front of more than 1300 people, with many of the current crop of Wallabies present ahead of the All Blacks clash, which doubles as the opening Bledisloe Cup match.

Their new jumper features five white stars down the royal blue shirt front, which are said to represent their "five-star pledge" as to how they will contribute on and off the field: R - for respect, E - for Excellence, B - for balance, E - for Ethos, and L - for leadership.

State sports minister James Merlino was also at the lunch and announced the government would contribute $1.5m to upgrade Princes Park in Carlton to provide a new training and administration base for the new Super 15 rugby club.

The side will play out of the new rectangular stadium AAMI Park, which it will share with the Melbourne Storm rugby league and Heart soccer teams.

Mortlock will watch the Wallabies from the stands on Saturday night and, after their impressive 30-13 win over the Springboks in Brisbane last weekend, predicted a narrow Australian victory.

"I was very impressed with the calmness and how throughout the game we kept our composure and mettle and our pressure on the Springboks.

"At times in the past we've wavered from doing that and we're going to need that and a little bit more to compete with the All Blacks on Saturday night but I think such a young group will take a lot out of that effort, knowing full well that this will be a step up."

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