The heavy focus this week on Matt Giteau's axing from the Wallabies' squad has overshadowed the equally noteworthy retention of his highly capable heir apparent.

Time will tell if Pat McCabe has truly jumped ahead of Giteau in Australia's inside centre pecking order, but the Brumbies' utility is already relishing the chance to further showcase his credentials on Saturday night against South Africa.

While Giteau has been omitted from the match-day 22 altogether after his failure to spark Australia's backline into action from five-eighth against Samoa, McCabe kept the No.12 jumper after earning players' player honours in his first Test start.

"I think it was ok. I didn't really set the world on fire by any means," McCabe on Thursday modestly said of his spirited debut.

"I think I carried the ball reasonably strongly and made my tackles and sort of worked hard at the breakdown, so I think (coach Robbie Deans) liked my work rate and that sort of thing."

Reuniting with former Australian schoolboys' teammates Kurtley Beale, Quade Cooper, Will Genia and David Pocock should make McCabe's first appearance against the world champion Springboks extra special.

Playing outside the class of Cooper and Genia in particular should also provide the 23-year-old with more attacking opportunities.

"I played with both of them once at school (in 2005)," McCabe said.

"It's been a while, but it felt pretty natural at training and, hopefully, I think it should work well on Saturday night.

"Just the way Quade plays in some ways, it takes pressure off me - just with the way he communicates and organises things.

"So it just allows me to concentrate on what I'm doing. And to run off those guys, hopefully I will be in space and hopefully I can finish off.

"But just to run off those guys is a pretty good experience."

Even if adjusting to Cooper's unpredictable style did take "a little bit of getting used to".

"He runs different linesand sort of plays around more than anyone I've ever played with," McCabe said of the flyhalf marvel.

"But I think he's very good in the sense that if you run into a hole, he'll generally find you, so I'll just probably give him a bit more depth and, once I pick a line, just run hard."

Another added bonus for McCabe is having his Brumbies' teammate Adam Ashley-Cooper outside him.

The pair gelled especially well in defence in an otherwise soundly-beaten Wallabies' outfit on Sunday.

"It helps a lot, obviously having someone who you've spent a lot of time with through the Super Rugby season," McCabe said.

"It just feels a lot more comfortable and I'm obviously a lot more used to the way he defends and the lines that he likes to run.

"Even just having someone familiar next to you, it helps to settle the nerves a little bit, I think."

If he found the bruising Samoans tough, McCabe knows he'll also have his hands full containing the Springboks' midfield of five-eighth Morne Steyn and centres Wynand Olivier and Juan de Jongh.

"They're quality players," he said.

"I think Olivier obviously brings that direct, strong running and he's obviously very familiar with the way Morne Steyn plays, so I think they'll have a very good combination.

"I haven't played a lot against Juan, but he's obviously got really good footwork, a big left-foot step, and he played very well for the Stormers this year.

"So they'll be very dangerous."

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