Good quality rugby is what will win the Test and the series for South Africa against the British and Irish Lions, not any advantage they could gain from playing at the famed Loftus Versfeld stadium or nature's elements on Saturday.

Speaking in the build-up to Saturday's decisive second Test in Pretorius, Springbok No.8 Pierre Spies dismissed the notion that the venue and high altitude will hold the key to victory.

With five of the Bulls' Super 14-winning squad in the Bok starting XV and another three on the bench - added to the game being played in Pretoria's rarified air - many pundits feel the Lions are facing a hiding.

However, the 24-year-old Spies is adamant that just turning up on Saturday will not be good enough.

Even though the Boks seemingly have a superior pack, following their demolition job on the Lions in Durban last week, Spies said the South Africans will need to take it up a level or two.

He said he was "surprised" by how well the Boks' rolling maul worked last week - when the combined distance of two consecutive mauls took them 50 metres downfield and resulted in a try for Heinrich Brussow.

"No doubt the Lions will be better prepared, not just for our rolling maul but also in the scrums," Spies said, adding that it will be an "interesting" showdown on Saturday.

"We all know that anything can happen on the day.

"Loftus is definitely not going to win the game for us.

"We still have to play some good rugby, because the Lions are going to be up for it this weekend. They will come with everything they have."

The Bok No.8 said because the pressure is on the Lions to get the win, to save the series, the tourists will be that much more dangerous.

"We are going to have to work really hard this weekend.

"The altitude is not going to win the game for us, Loftus is not going to win the game for us - it is going to be a tough game for 80 minutes."

He said even having a good few Bulls players in the side would make no difference.

He pointed to the fact that in the first Test in Durban there were seven Sharks in the starting XV (five Bulls this week) and one Shark on the bench (three Bulls on the bench) and the Boks still had to pull out all the stops.

"It is a different ground, at altitude and a different surface, but we still need to play some good rugby," he said, adding: "We are playing for the Boks and our goal is to win it for this team."

Spies said the inclusion of a more physical Schalk Burger, ahead of poacher Heinrich Brussow in the starting XV won't change the dynamics of the Bok loose trio much.

"What makes it so amazing, is that Schalk is a such brilliant player. Not only is he a brilliant all-rounder, he has great experience.

"He just fitted right back into it. Schalk, Juan [Smith] and myself work together very well and it's been very good [in training] this week."