Matfield - ready for the battle (Getty Images).

By Alex Lowe, PA Sport, Melbourne

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Springboks lock Victor Matfield is primed for an old-fashioned, brutal contest when old enemies South Africa and New Zealand meet in this weekend's World Cup quarter-final.

The history between the two sides is long and bloody, and the forwards battle under the Telstra Dome roof promises to be nothing less.

After all, the Springboks cannot afford to allow All Blacks scrum-half Justin Marshall the quick ball he craves to feed the devastating wing men Doug Howlett and Joe Rokocoko.

"It's going to be a big game this weekend. Springboks-All Blacks games are always very special," said Matfield.

"For us in South Africa it is always a big game to play against the All Blacks. It's the one game as a kid you look forward to.

"There is a lot of history in the game, so we will be psyched up on Saturday.

"They are a good forward pack and have brought in Chris Jack which will strengthen them in the tight phases.

"They didn't play their best against the Welsh but against South Africa they are going to compete much better in every aspect of the game."

South Africa have not beaten New Zealand in six Tests stretching back to 2000, but conversely they have never lost to the All Blacks in a World Cup match.

However, captain Corne Krige dismissed all that as history. This is the only one that matters to him.

"This is a big game for both teams. It is important that we play the game we want to play and focus on our strengths," said Krige.

"Regardless of previous performances at this event, good or bad, there is no doubt that both teams will raise the level. It is what we expect."

Matfield ruefully recalled the Tri-Nations Test between the two sides in Pretoria, where South Africa were dismantled up front and the All Blacks ran amok, clocking up a half-century of points.

But the Springboks have improved since then and Matfield is confident they can extend that unbeaten World Cup record against the All Blacks.

"Something was wrong that day. I don't know why but psychologically something was wrong," said Matfield.

"After the Australia game [which South Africa won the week before], everyone's expectations were high and maybe even we thought we were better than we were.

"But there are no problems this week. We have improved and shown that in the tournament so far.

"We can compete with any team in the world and beat any team in the world."

The prospect of marking the likes of Rokocoko and Howlett would be a daunting task for any winger, and so Thinus Delport is looking to Matfield and his colleagues to shut down the All Blacks threat at source.

"They had better do it otherwise we are going to be in big trouble out wide," said Delport.

"They have been doing well and a lot of hard work with coach [Rudolf] Straeuli and hopefully they can repeat the form they showed against Samoa."

Last weekend, Wales showed that chinks do exist in the All Blacks armoury, in the backs as well as up front.

"But I bet you those gaps aren't going to be there at the weekend," said Delport.

"They will definitely have been working on it. The Welsh surprised a lot of people and I don't think the All Blacks expected such an onslaught."

Danie Rossouw will start on the openside flank as replacement for Joe van Niekerk, who has flown home for surgery on a ruptured anterior knee ligament.

Derick Hougaard will start only his third Test after retaining the fly-half role ahead of the more experienced and more conservative Louis Koen.

Selborne Boome has been promoted onto the bench in place of Rossouw as back-row cover.