Champion flanker George Smith is plotting to upstage Springboks revelation Heinrich Brussow to give the Wallabies a vital edge in Saturday's Tri Nations Test at Newlands.

In a classic master versus apprentice showdown, Smith, the veteran of 100 Tests for Australia, and Brussow, South Africa's six-Test rookie, will go head to head in a duel for possession.

Unlike the usual big Bok openside flankers, Brussow is a classic ball pilferer in the mould of Australian terriers Smith and Phil Waugh.

And he has revelled under the new law variation which allows the first man over the ball to stay there without being penalised.

With his low centre of gravity, strength, speed and an insatiable appetite for work, Brussow has used the tactic to devastating effect against the British and Irish Lions and the All Blacks since replacing suspended Schalk Burger in the Springboks back row.

"He's a fantastic player," Wallabies assistant coach Jim Williams said.

"And certainly his ability to get up for a repeat effort is fantastic. He'll get up and do it again and that's what you want from a player of his type who can get over the ball and be strong over the ball.

"He got a couple of good steals (against the All Blacks on Saturday) from blokes running isolated for a split second. That's how tight it is and that's how good you need to be at this level."

But Smith hopes to spoil Brussow's party on Saturday playing exactly the same game - only better.

Australia's outstanding No.7 was too modest to say it outright but, in his own understated way, admitted he too was loving playing under the new law for scavengers.

"It allows you to latch onto the ball and not let go. It is a strength of my game," Smith said.

"It is an opportunity for me to play some good rugby, play my game and make sure I am effective in that area."

Smith, though, realises that to be his usual effective self, he and the rest of the Wallabies back row must keep Brussow in check.

"Brussow is playing particularly well at the moment. He is getting turnovers all over the field at the moment and playing behind a very good pack," Smith said.

"You can see how determined he is out there on the field, and the way he attacks those breakdowns and doesn't let go of it.

"As a back row, we are going to have to beat him into those ruck areas and minimise as much the disruption he can do to the team.

"He is definitely a player you have to keep on. He brings a different element that you have to be wary of, but it won't change the way I play my game too much and I am pretty excited about the challenge this weekend."

Smith said the Wallabies, particularly the back row again, also needed to keep close tabs on South Africa's dangerous halves pairing of Fourie du Preez, whose tactical kicking was a feature against the All Blacks, and Morne Steyn, who nailed a Springboks-record eight goals in the 31-19 victory on Saturday.

"You have to be aware of (du Preez's) kick taps and his box kicks," Smith said.

"He has a lot of positive elements in his game. When he is going forward, the team seems to be going forward as well.

"Morne Steyn, he's another factor there. If we are ill-disciplined in our play, he can kick them from anywhere."

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