Lock legend Victor Matfield has warned the Wallabies that the Springboks too are hurting and will do "whatever it takes" to win Saturday's Tri Nations clash in Durban.

Matfield was among the throng of South Africa's first-choice stars in camp in Rustenburg recuperating - and quietly plotting - when the second-string Springboks succumbed 39-20 to the Wallabies in Sydney last month.

And he is hungry for revenge at Kings Park.

"It's always tough to see a Springbok side lose. It's never nice," he said on Tuesday.

"Every time you put on the Springbok jersey, you want to win so, like any other Test match, there's only one thing for us and that's to give 100 per cent and hopefully win the Test match.

"We need to stand up as a Springbok side. That's important. We need to win the game. We need to be up on the scoreboard after 80 minutes, so whatever it takes."

The 34-year-old 105-Test veteran will hang up his boots after the Rugby World Cup in September-October and is hoping to go out with a bang in New Zealand.

"I've always said rugby's a journey and you have to enjoy every minute of it," he said.

"It's coming to the end but I just want to enjoy these last few months.

"Hopefully we can do something special in these last few months and that will just put the cherry on the cake."

Despite the Boks being criticised for their World Cup build-up, Matfield believes South Africa are well placed to become the first nation to defend the William Webb Ellis Cup after attending to "detail" and defensive issues in Rustenburg.

"Test rugby is about the detail. One little mistake and the other team scores and that's why sometimes it's nice to have experience there," he said.

"Experienced guys don't make as many mistakes and that's what they must show on Saturday."

Indeed, the man mountain promised the Wallabies the full-strength Boks - likely to include 10 starters from South Africa's triumphant 2007 World Cup final side - would hit the ground running despite most having not played in two months.

"We're a Springboks side ... all quality players who have been playing together for eight years in most regards," Matfield said.

"Most of us were in Rustenburg as well and we did a lot of planning on the boards and stuff. Come Saturday, we'll be ready to go.

"But it was nice to have a few weeks off. Myself, I haven't had that long period of time off for a long time.

"So it was great just to recover a bit and now we can't wait to get back on the park and play again."

Fellow World Cup winner, winger JP Pietersen, also warned the Wallabies they wouldn't be alone in chasing redemption for a last-up shellacking at the hands of the All Blacks.

"We also want to redeem some pride and respect from our nation," Pietersen said.

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