Springboks captain Victor Matfield has thrown the Ellis Park fear factor at the Wallabies ahead of Saturday's Tri-Nations Test at the Johannesburg graveyard.

Australia haven't won a Test at the ground for 45 years and a combination of altitude, fanatical Boks fans and the frightening surrounding neighbourhoods has been blamed for spooking Wallabies sides for decades.

"We've got a really great record (at Ellis Park - 29 wins in 41 Tests) and it always feels great to play a Test at this venue," Matfield said.

"No Test match is a dead rubber. Even though there will be no trophies to be won on Saturday, we have to show we are on the right track."

The Tri-Nations series will be decided when Australia host the All Blacks in Brisbane next month, regardless of Saturday night's result.

Coach Peter de Villiers and the world champion Springboks are under massive pressure at home after winning just one of their five Tri-Nations matches while trying to implement a new playing style the coach says is more suitable to rugby's experimental laws.

"There's still the end of year tour to come and we don't want to go on that trip thinking about whether we should change things or worry if things are working or not," Matfield said.

"We want to get some confidence out of this game."

De Villiers has made only forced changes to the side which lost its first Test at home to Australia in eight last years last Saturday in Durban.

Odwa Ndungane comes in for injured winger JP Pietersen, while Brian Mujati moves from the bench to start in place of suspended prop CL van der Linde.

On the bench, Jannie du Plessis comes in as the new prop and lock Danie Rossouw is also back from injury, meaning Joe van Niekerk has been omitted.

Ruan Pienaar comes onto the bench for concussed Francois Steyn, while World Cup star Bryan Habana has failed to overcome a hamstring injury.

"It was a temptation (to make changes), but I studied the game and I felt we weren't too bad," de Villiers said.

"If we lose three in a row, how can you change that? Winning and losing are the same thing to me, it's just that winning is much nicer.

"Maybe our fire wasn't hot enough last week, maybe we didn't have the right pots and pans. Hopefully we can eat the food this weekend."

Meanwhile, Springboks coaching staff met with the International Rugby Board's referees boss Paddy O'Brien in Johannesburg in the wake of de Villiers publicly criticising Australian referee Matt Goddard's breakdown rulings after a loss to New Zealand two weeks ago.

"We are glad we had the chance to meet," Springboks manager Andy Marinos said in a statement.

"The meeting was held in a good spirit and we spoke openly about the issues."

O'Brien said: "It was good to meet and discuss areas of concern and going forward we are now much clearer from both sides."

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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