Back-row bolter Ryan Kankowski has stressed the Springboks' dreadful Tri-Nations start has made them more dangerous, and certainly not left them vulnerable.

In a warning to the Wallabies, Kankowski said South Africa were primed to show why they are the reigning Tri-Nations champions on Saturday night in Brisbane.

The aura of the 2007 World Cup winners and last year's No.1-ranked outfit has diminished with consecutive 32-12 and 31-17 losses to the All Blacks in New Zealand.

It means the Springboks have to immediately turn their form around to stay in the tournament by ending a terrible hoodoo at Suncorp Stadium where they have lost their past six and haven't scored a try in 13 years.

Durban-based Sharks No.8 Kankowski was unveiled as coach Peter de Villiers' shock selection on Tuesday in a bid to quicken up the tourists to handle Australia's running game on what they see as the fastest venue in the southern hemisphere.

Kankowski will line-up at flanker, replacing Francois Louw, with the ultra-quick Pierre Spies staying at No.8, while creative utility back Ruan Pienaar has been picked to start at halfback for the first time in three years.

Skipper John Smit was confident his Sharks team-mates Pienaar and Kankowski would inject an X-factor into the Springboks game.

Both made immediate impressions off the bench in the four-tries-to-two loss to the All Blacks in Wellington and believe South Africa are determined to make amends for their horror start on the road.

"Any team coming off a loss will be more dangerous," Kankowski said.

"You've got a point to prove and they way I look at it you are only as good as your last game and we didn't play to our potential the last two games.

"We want to pick each other up from the last two weeks and hopefully get it right."

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is certainly expecting the best from the Boks.

"We know they will be grumpy and we know they will be wanting a result and they have communicated themselves the importance of away wins," Deans said.

"They hold the trophy and they won't want to be letting that go so we expect the best of them."

The Sharks duo are two of four changes to the Boks starting 15 with France-based prop BJ Botha replacing CJ van der Linde, who will sit on the bench after being cleared of a shoulder injury, and 70kg winger Gio Aplon taking over from the suspended Jean de Villiers.

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