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Despite a penchant over the past few years for claiming scalps away from home - notably two in three years against the All Blacks - Argentina have struggled to topple the Springboks on African soil since their sole success in Durban in 2015.
Their pain has been particularly accentuated on the Highveld, where they've never really come close.
Saturday's meeting at Ellis Park provides them with another opportunity, but history paints a bleak picture.
News24 Sport goes down memory lane.
1994 - Springboks 46-26 Argentina - Ellis Park, Johannesburg
In what was generally an innocuous outing under new coach Kitch Christie, the Springboks' performance was lit up by a debutant winger from the Free State named Chris Badenhorst.
A legend in Bloemfontein, Badenhorst - who still holds the South African first-class record for most tries (173) - was one of many local players who were deprived of stellar international careers because of the country's sporting isolation.
His cause also wasn't helped by the competition in the position, with James Small, Chester Williams, Pieter Hendriks and Jacques Olivier all ahead of him in the queue.
Handed a belated and rare opportunity, Badenhorst did what he did best - he scored a brace.
He would only play one more Test, but later expressed that he was more than happy just to have been given an opportunity.
2002 - Springboks 49-29 Argentina - PAM Brink Stadium, Springs
South Africa had started their new journey under head coach Rudolf Straeuli with a gritty series win over Wales, but this outing - memorably or infamously (depending on your viewpoint) hosted at the now derelict PAM Brink Stadium on the East Rand - gave fans a first real glimpse into the attractive rugby the team would play in the initial part of their mentor's reign.
After staving off worthy Argentinian resistance in the first half, the diminutive yet electric Andre Pretorius shone at flyhalf, scoring a superb try after feeding off a sublime Joe van Niekerk off-load and finshing with a haul of 24 points.
Straeuli could also reflect on his scrumhalf berth being defined by two candidates who were simply relentless in staking their claims.
Craig Davidson was on the scoresheet in the first half and was thoroughly accomplished before Bolla Conradie appeared after the break and revelled, scoring a try of his own and eventually setting the platform for becoming Straeuli's first choice later in the season.
2013 - Springboks 73-13 Argentina - FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
The Springboks' slow burn under Heyneke Meyer was seldom as brutal as in this match.
With Morne Steyn's trusty boot in top form, South Africa were only 9-6 ahead after 29 minutes without being unduly inconvenienced before Pumas hooker Eusebio Guinazu's errant slap-down led to an opening penalty try.
That prompted the floodgates to open in the second half as the Boks incredibly scored seven tries, mixing power with incisiveness, as well as a typically predatory performance from skipper Jean de Villiers.
Yet the unsullied highlight was the peerless Fourie du Preez's return to the international fold, an outstanding 26-minute shift as replacement that saw him patently wreak havoc.
2014 - Springboks 13-6 Argentina - Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
On an icy August evening, the bizarre scene of torrential rain and a sharp hailstorm greeted the teams and, unsurprisingly, rendered this game an ugly slugfest.
As it turned out, Ruan Pienaar's dart down the blindside for a first-minute try proved the difference between the sides, with South Africa in particular struggling to find much of a foothold after that score.
Instead, it was Argentina who held sway for most of the match, but they were thwarted by being too ambitious in the conditions and some resolute Bok defence.
There was also an international debut for a certain Damian de Allende, who didn't take long to look comfortable at this level.
2019 - Springboks 24-17 Argentina - Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Hamstrung initially by an experimental combination captained by the evergreen Schalk Brits, the Springboks gave their fringe players a chance and had to mount a notable comeback to win this encounter.
Sbu Nkosi secured his World Cup ticket with a superb brace of tries, showing skill and sheer bloody-mindedness in a performance full of energy.
The Pumas had looked on course for a rare win, capitalising on greater stability within their ranks, but eventually succumbed to indiscipline, allowing Elton Jantjies to prove a match-winner with his boot.
