Peter de Villiers' Springboks are hoping to use matches against Namibia and the New Zealand Maori as part of their preparation for the Test series against the British & Irish Lions.

According to the Afrikaans Sunday newspaper Rapport, the Boks are set to play Namibia in Windhoek in late May followed by a fixture against the Kiwi invitational side.

The big scoop will be the encounter with the Maori ? a game that is scheduled to be played in Soweto in June.

The two games will be the Boks? only chance to gear themselves for the series against the Lions, which kicks off in Durban on June 20.

The planned matches in Windhoek and Soweto will be historic and take the Springbok brand to new frontiers.

De Villiers confirmed that his side would play a warm-up against Namibia.

"We are playing them on May 29. The game in Soweto is, however, subject to certain conditions and has not been finalised, but I hope it will happen. It will help me a great deal for my preparation. We can't take on the Lions without warm-up games," said De Villiers.

The Bok coach already confirmed the possibility of a game in Soweto towards the end of last season. However, it was in doubt as an opponent could not be found.

The Lions are touring South Africa, France will be in Australia and most top Test nations will be playing in the Churchill Cup, Nations Cup or Pacific Nations Cup.

The Maori, who won the Pacific Nations Cup last year, have been replaced by the Junior All Blacks for the 2009 version of the tournament.

They would be available to tour South Africa, but it will cost SA Rugby a few million rands and a sponsor will have to be found.

Willem Strauss, promoter of the game in Windhoek, said it would be an historic occasion.

"It will be the first time in history that the Springboks play elsewhere in Africa. They are the African continents only world champion in any team sport to date," he said.