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The world champions have 21 players missing from their Australasian tour through injury, including vice-captain Victor Matfield, hooker Bismarck du Plessis, lock Bakkies Botha and winger Bryan Habana.
In their absence Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has named a largely untried squad for South Africa's two away Tests against the Wallabies and New Zealand.
Despite the absence of the Springbok stars, Jacobs insists the lure of making the squad for this year's World Cup is a huge incentive for the players.
"We've got guys in the squad who have played Test rugby before and all of us are looking forward to playing," Jacobs told reporters on Monday.
"We want to show the world we didn't come over here to fool around. We're here to play rugby.
"There are a lot of places in the side still open and the guys at home will know that many of this team can go to the World Cup and this is an opportunity for every player to show that they are good enough to wear the jersey."
The Sharks centre, 30, said he is desperate to play in the World Cup, which starts in New Zealand in September, and believes a strong start to the Tri-Nations campaign against the Wallabies will hold him in good stead.
"I have played 30 Tests, but I have never gone to a World Cup and it is something to work on, and it's my dream to be involved in one," he said.
"I need to show that I can still make it. We have a lot of critics at home that don't think we can and it's up to us to prove that we are."
The Wallabies will be looking for retribution against the Springboks after their shock 32-23 defeat to Samoa but Jacobs believes little should be read into Sunday's result.
"It was a bit of a surprise for all of us, but Australia is a proud nation and, like all good teams, they will bounce back, hopefully not this week," he said.
