Emotions are set to flow in Perth when the Wallabies farewell Slipper in front of a sold out Optus Stadium crowd in Saturday night's blockbuster against the All Blacks.
The Wallabies can't win the Bledisloe Cup, given New Zealand won the series opener 33-24 at Eden Park last week.
The Rugby Championship is probably out of the question as well, given Australia would likely need a bonus-point win over NZ and then rely on Argentina upsetting South Africa in order to snare the silverware.
But with Slipper bowing out from Test rugby after the match, the Wallabies feel like they have everything to play for.
And in a bit of added motivation, the hosts must win if they are to avoid posting a record losing streak against the Kiwis.
The All Blacks have won 10 consecutive matches against Australia, equalling the mark they set against the Wallabies between 2008-2010.
Australia's most recent win against their arch rivals came back in 2020 in Brisbane.
NZ setting an outright winning record with victory in Slipper's final game is simply unthinkable, says the Wallabies captain.
"When you've got someone like James that is playing his last game for our country ... it'd be crazy for us not to really lean into that," Harry Wilson said on Friday.
"We really want him to have a lasting memory of the Wallabies, something to be really proud of.
"It's on all of us to make sure we go there and do that.
"And in the most classic Slippy ways, he's going to empty the tank one final time, and that's what he's done 150 times for the Wallabies."
Slipper let the playing group know of his retirement in the most low-key manner earlier this week - sending a message to the team's WhatsApp chat.
But on Saturday, the 36-year-old will be the centre of attention as the Wallabies attempt to defeat the All Blacks juggernaut.
"He's everyone's older brother in the group, he looks after everyone," Wilson said of Slipper, who made his debut as a 21-year-old in 2010 at Perth's Subiaco Oval.
"He's the ultimate team man, and we love him to death.
"His service to the gold jersey has been unbelievable, and to get to go out there one final time with Slippy, it's going to be an honour."
The Wallabies have made enormous strides under coach Joe Schmidt over the past year, and Wilson said the record losing streak against NZ wouldn't be playing on their minds.
"The Bledisloe means so much to the two teams, and they've obviously been able to retain it this year," Wilson said.
"But in saying that I feel as if this team's going in the right direction.
"And even in those 10 losses there have been a lot of matches where it's been pretty neck and neck and the Wallabies could have got the result.
"There's a lot of confidence in this group."
Wallabies enforcer Will Skelton and scrumhalf Jake Gordon have been handed starts, while the All Blacks will be without veteran flyhalf Beauden Barett (shoulder), prop Ethan de Groot (concussion), prop Tyrel Lomax (broken thumb) and winger Caleb Clarke (ankle).
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