Cape Town - South African captain John Smit is determined to play a major part in helping the Springboks beat Australia in Durban on Saturday.

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It will be Smit's last Test at his home ground, Kings Park, and the Bok hooker would like nothing more than to help his charges defeat the Wallabies and get their season back on track.

"For me it's going to be one that I would like to end on a high note. The motivation will definitely be there not to leave the field as a loser," Smit told Die Burger newspaper.

The Bok skipper will also be out to prove his critics wrong, especially with Bismarck du Plessis blowing down his neck for the No 2 jersey.

Many pundits have called for Du Plessis's inclusion at hooker ahead of Smit and South African coach Peter de Villiers acknowledged on Thursday that he is not yet sure if Smit will play all of South Africa's games at hooker this year.

"My form is not yet where it needs to be, but the more I play, the better it will get," said Smit.

The Bok leader also believes the return of several experienced campaigners will provide a much needed boost.

"It's good to have some of the old dogs back in the team and it is important that we click early.

"The first 20 minutes will be very important, we have to gain the ascendancy during that period," said Smit.

Teams

South Africa:
15 Frans Steyn, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Danie Rossouw, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Beast Mtawarira

Substitutes: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Gurthro Steenkamp, 18 Gerhard Mostert, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Morne Steyn, 22 Gio Aplon

Australia:
15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O'Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom (captain), 5 James Horwill, 4 Nathan Sharpe, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.

Substitutes: 16 Saia Faingaa, 17 Salesi Maafu, 18 Sitaleki Timani, 19 Ben McCalman, 20 Radike Samo, 21 Luke Burgess, 22 Anthony Faingaa