Springbok captain Corne Krige expects a tough final warm-up match against Samoa in Pretoria on Saturday before the Tri-Nations gets under way next week.
With places in the 24-man Springbok squad for the annual southern hemisphere competition still available, the match against Samoa offers players their last chance to impress coach Rudolf Straeuli.
The Springboks have won their first three Test matches of the season against Wales (twice) and Argentina, but Samoa will offer a similar style of play to Australia and New Zealand.
"They play a tough and physical game and we can expect them to use the ball and move it around and we will have to cover more of the field than in our previous Tests," Krige said.
The Springboks have made nine changes to the team that beat Argentina 49-29 in Springs, last Saturday. The six players retained are wing Stefan Terblanche, centre De Wet Barry, flyhalf Andre Pretorius, flanker Krige, No 8 Bob Skinstad and lock Hottie Louw.
Straeuli is still looking at combinations and was giving some players a final chance to stake a claim for the Tri-Nations squad.
"I'm happy with what we have achieved so far in terms of the results and the way we have been able to score tries," Straeuli said.
"But there is a lot of room for improvement and there are still opportunities for places to get into the Tri-Nations squad."
In a late development, Breyton Paulse was recalled to the squad when Butch James broke down with a Grade One hamstring injury at training.
Samoa are coming off a 31-13 victory over Tonga last weekend which qualified them for next year's World Cup, but 48 hours of travelling and four days of preparation have taken their toll on the islanders.
They have also had some minor injuries that have forced New Zealand-born coach John Boe into making three changes.
Carl Manu drops to the bench to allow Silao Leaega to return at fullback with Elvis Seveali'i switching to outside centre.
In the pack, exciting Samoa-based loose forward Maurie Fa'asavlu replaces Auckland's Patrick Segi on the flank and Opeta Palepoi comes in for Potu Leavas at lock.
"The guys are tired but very excited about having the opportunity of playing against the Springboks," Boe said.
"They want go out there and excite the South African public with our brand of rugby.
"Although South Africa have made nine changes they are lucky they have so much depth.
"There has never been a poor Springbok team to take the field and they will play with pride as you would expect.
"But we are here to give them a tough game and to show the world we are worth looking at."
It will be the third encounter between the sides. The two previous occasions were in 1995 - both at Ellis Park in Johannesburg - with the Spring-boks recording victories of 60-8 and 42-14.
The latter was in the quarterfinal of the World Cup, which South Africa went on to win at their first attempt. - Reuters
Teams:
South Africa: 15-Werner Greeff; 14-Stefan Terblanche, 13-Marius Joubert, 12-DeWet Barry, 11-Dean Hall, 10-Andre Pretorius, 9-Johannes Conradie; 8-Bob Skinstad, 7-Joe van Niekerk, 6-Corne Krige (captain), 5-Victor Matfield, 4-Hottie Louw, 3-Faan Rautenbach, 2-Danie Coetzee, 1-Lawrence Sephaka.
Samoa: 15-Silao Leaega; 14-Lome Fa'atau, 13-Elvis Seveali'i, 12-Fereti Tuilagi, 11-Alesana Tuilagi; 10-Earl Va'a, 9-Steven So'oialo; 8-Henry Tuilagi, 7-Maurie Fa'asavlu, 6-Semoi Sititi (captain), 5-Leo Lafaialii, 4-Opeta Palepoi, 3-Jeremy Tomuli, 2-Trevor Leota, 1-Tamato Leupolu.