The Springbok debutants are banking on the experienced players heading into the historic Test against Portugal in Bloemfontein.
Seven players will be on debut this week against the so-called lower-tier nation, but the Springboks are by no means taking the Test lightly.
Before the World Cup in France last year, Os Lobos, beat Ireland in a warm-up Test, while at the tournament they beat Fiji 24-23.
The Sharks loose-forward, Phepsi Buthelezi, who will start in the number six jersey, told OFM Sport that making his debut on the weekend is a dream come true, and his has been welcomed with open arms by the more senior players.
“Yeah I know it’s very special for me and my family,” said the exciting loosie.
“It’s obviously been a childhood dream of mine to represent the Springboks and to play for South Africa. So it’s a dream come true for me and it’s really a game that me and my family are really looking forward to.
“The experience has been amazing and like the coach said, I’ve really leaned on a guy like Siya Kolisi, Kwagga Smith and Marco van Staden, those guys have really helped me.
“I’ve had the privilege of being with the team now for the past couple of weeks, so I’ve really learned a lot from them and I’ve also realised that even though Siya is the captain, there are many leaders within the group and everyone is just always helping to try and make the world go faster and that’s something I’ve also learned and I want to try and implement going forward.”
“I think Portugal are really on an upward curve. They obviously beat Ireland and Fiji in the World Cup, so I think they’ll really come out guns blazing,” said Buthelezi.
“I think for them as well, it will be a massive game, you know, playing the world champion, so it’s certainly not a game that we’re taking lightly.”
Saturday’s sold out Test at the Toyota Stadium kicks off at 17:00.
Springboks – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 RG Snyman, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels
Replacements – 16 André-Hugo Venter, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Ruan Venter, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Quan Horn
Portugal – TBA
Morgan Piek