The Wallabies' Western Force contingent have dismissed any talk of a Subiaco hoodoo haunting their Tri-Nations clash with South Africa on Saturday, despite poor records for Australia and the Super 14 side at the Perth ground.

The Wallabies have won just one from four against the Springboks at the ground, which has also hardly been a fortress for the Force with the Perth-based Super 14 franchise managing just seven wins in three years there.

Four Force stars will line up on their home ground for the Wallabies on Saturday - five-eighth Matt Giteau, lock Nathan Sharpe and reserve backs Ryan Cross and Drew Mitchell.

"We're not really aware of that and it certainly doesn't come into our preparation so we're going out there to do what we have to, and for us that's to come away with a win," Mitchell said.

"It's going to be familiar. Obviously playing here the last couple of years with the Force I get to know the surroundings and the biggest thing (is) I guess we feel comfortable out there."

Around 40,000 tickets have already been sold for the 43,500 capacity stadium, with the world champion Springboks enjoying huge support among the large number of ex-patriots in Perth.

Force centre Cross said the Australians, though, would still enjoy a strong home ground advantage.

"I think so, they've had to fly all the way from the south of New Zealand," he said.

"We've been here for a good week and we're ready to go."

Mitchell, who has replaced injured Force teammate Cameron Shepherd, agreed.

"The crowd's a big factor and it's something that we can really thrive off and they're such a fanatical crowd that give the home team so much," he said.

But that crowd is also something Springboks captain Victor Matfield is looking forward to as his side seeks to build on wins in 1998 and 2005 and a draw in 2001.

"It's just another away game but it helps to have a lot of South Africans around," he said.

"We went to a signing session in town and there were almost 2,000 people there to support us.

"I don't look back on records. We are just focusing on this week. But it's nice to know there are people here supporting us."

A win is vital for Tri-Nations outsiders Australia to have any chance in this year's series. Their other two games against the Springboks are in Durban, where the Wallabies haven't won since 2000, and Johannesburg, where the losing streak spans 45 years.

"In the Tri-Nations you have to win your home games and if you get off to a bad start it's hard to bounce back and get on top of them on the road," Cross said.

Meanwhile, reserve winger/fullback Mitchell is expecting the Wallabies back three, himself included if he is used as a replacement, to face an intimidating barrage of high balls from the physical Boks, something the Australians spent plenty of time practising for at Thursday's training session.

"There'll be some I'm sure, not only from the nine (Ricky Januarie) but also from the 10 (Butch James)," he said.

"These ELVs (experimental law variations) certainly keep the ball in play for a lot longer and it's just something that we have to be on our toes with and certainly something we've been training for."

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