The Wallabies concede they'll have one eye on the history books when they attempt to turn a frustrating week into a one they can tell their grandchildren about in Johannesburg on Saturday.

It has been 45 years since Australia tasted victory at Ellis Park - known also now as Coca-Cola Park - or registered back-to-back wins in South Africa and breaking an eight-tear drought in the Republic last week has the Wallabies eager to etch their names into the record books.

Even forward-looking coach Robbie Deans, who breathed a sigh of relief that the Rocky Elsom suspension saga was finally over, admitted that the past had affected his players' mindsets.

"We're very conscious of the history, we've read a lot of messages and so forth (from supporters)," Deans said.

"But our guys are pretty connected to that anyway and mainly because it's now their turn.

"They do have an awareness but they're not hung up on what's been before and they recognise to that end they've got a great opportunity to do something that has meaning and that's important to them."

Deans played down any talk of hoodoos in the lead-up to last week's Durban Test but he couldn't hide his players' focus.

"Obviously it was a big step for the group on Saturday afternoon when we won here for the first time in eight years," flanker Phil Waugh said.

"Most of the guys are pretty aware of the history behind Ellis Park ... so it's another milestone and hoodoo to break if we perform well on Saturday afternoon.

"It's obviously there, the history, and the way that South Africa play at Ellis Park is very good but I don't think that it's something that the guys are too intimidated by, it's just a matter of embracing it and performing well."

The Wallabies will head to Jo'burg having only been able to finalise their team late Thursday after Elsom's appeal against a one-match ban was upheld four days after he was cited.

"It took a lot of time but I think that I was pretty keen on winning so I was reasonably focused on that," Elsom said.

"I'm very happy with it."

In making two unforced changes in Waugh and hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, and by blooding former NRL star Timana Tahu, Deans is hoping for freshness in the face of what he expects to be another brutal Boks onslaught.

"We realise that what we were last week won't be good enough and we think that that injection of enthusiasm will serve us well," he said.

"The good thing for (Tahu) is he's had a good background of preparation now so it's not nearly so daunting for him as it may have been if he'd gone in in week one."

Australian teams have struggled to put their finger on why they haven't been able to win in Jo'burg since 1963, but the 1,700m altitude, the eye-opening poverty of the surrounding suburbs and the sacredness of the turf to the Springboks have all been mentioned.

This time there's the added factor of world champions South Africa having their backs to the wall after relentless criticism at home for their one-from-five Tri-Nations record.

"The Springboks will play out of their skins essentially," Deans said.

"You look at the context, they are going to bring everything that they've got plus a bit more because they won't be enjoying their current circumstance.

"Last week we were able to deny early some of that pressure and that will be important again."

Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Stirling Mortlock (capt), Timana Tahu, Lote Tuqiri, Matt Giteau, Sam Cordingley, Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh, Rocky Elsom, Hugh McMeniman, James Horwill, Matt Dunning, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson. Res: Stephen Moore, Al Baxter, Dean Mumm, George Smith, Brett Sheehan, Ryan Cross, Drew Mitchell.

South Africa: Conrad Jantjes, Odwa Ndungane, Adrian Jacobs, Jean de Villiers, Jongi Nokwe, Butch James, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield (capt), Andries Bekker, Brian Mujati, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira. Res: Adriaan Strauss, Jannie du Plessis, Danie Rossouw, Luke Watson, Ricky Januarie, Ruan Pienaar, Percy Montgomery.

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