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Cardiff - Wales believes they can beat the Springboks for only the second time in their one-off rugby test at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
The Springboks appear vulnerable, with Coach Peter de Villiers resting most of the big-name Bulls and Stormers from the Super 14 final, giving four European-based players a chance, and debut starts for three players from the Stormers. Two more uncapped players are in the reserves.
Wales' only win in 104 years of contests was in 1999 in the inaugural test at an incomplete Millennium Stadium. Ten seasons later, Wales thinks it can repeat on the same turf.
"They have made some changes and are also missing some key players. Our squad has been together for a long time, and now is the time for us to make a statement," says Wales and Lions hooker Matthew Rees.
"Every player is looking forward to this game with South Africa. It is big for us, and it's going to be key to start the summer with a good win."
The match heralds the beginning of an intense three weeks for Wales. After the game, it heads to New Zealand for two tests with the All Blacks. Coach Warren Gatland calls the matches with the two best teams in the world, as well as the tour, ideal preparation for next year's World Cup in New Zealand.
"We are playing three really tough matches, and we consider it to be the real start of the countdown towards the World Cup," Gatland says.
Wales centre James Hook was so excited, he delayed surgery on his shoulder for a week so he could play the Springboks. Then he hopes to be back in action by September.
"I am having painkilling injections, and that is helping me along," Hook says. "I can't really do much more damage to it, it's just the pain factor and getting through that. For the last five months, I have been managing it and doing what is best for myself."
The injured shoulder of tries record-holder Shane Williams couldn't bear the burden, however, and another blow for Wales was losing Lions flanker Andy Powell, recalled for the first time since he was dropped during the Six Nations for drink driving on a golf cart. He tore a thigh muscle in training. They were replaced by Leigh Halfpenny and Rob McCusker respectively.
The Springboks also had to make late changes since naming their side on May 22. Bath midfielder Butch James, a World Cup winner three years ago keen for his first start since 2008, was prevented from playing by Premier Rugby, the governing body of England's Premiership clubs, which has a blanket rule against releasing anyone for tests outside the official international window.
The rule annoyed South Africa, which pointed out Saracens hooker Schalk Brits' availability for the Barbarians against Ireland on Friday in Limerick.
James' withdrawal allowed a debut start for Juan de Jongh alongside fellow Stormers, winger Gio Aplon and flanker Francois Louw. The uncapped Sharks lock Alistair Hargreaves and Cheetahs winger Bjorn Basson were in the reserves.
Victor Matfield, fresh from leading the Bulls to a third Super 14 title in four years, stepped in for an injured Andries Bekker. His 93rd cap means the experimental Boks combine 532 among the starters. That's far more experience than the 463 Wales will start with.
The Welsh, though, sense it's their time.
"It's about belief in ourselves as players," says scrumhalf Mike Phillips. "In Wales we are very good at building opposition teams up, but we have not been so good in the past at backing ourselves.
"But we have a core of players here who have been playing well and improving for two or three years _ or even four or five _ and we know we have the ability, so why shouldn't we be confident?"
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Lineups:
Wales: Lee Byrne, Leigh Halfpenny, James Hook, Jamie Roberts, Tom Prydie, Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips; Paul James, Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Bradley Davies, Deiniol Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Sam Warburton, Ryan Jones (captain). Replacements: Huw Bennett, John Yapp, Alun Wyn Jones, Rob McCusker, Richard Rees, Dan Biggar, Andrew Bishop.
South Africa: Frans Steyn, Gio Aplon, Jaque Fourie, Juan de Jongh, Odwa Ndungane, Ruan Pienaar, Ricky Januarie; CJ van der Linde, John Smit (captain), BJ Botha, Danie Rossouw, Victor Matfield, Francois Louw, Dewald Potgieter, Joe van Niekerk. Replacements: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Jannie du Plessis, Alistair Hargreaves, Ryan Kankowski, Meyer Bosman, Zane Kirchner, Bjohn Basson.
