World Cup-winning Springbok lock Victor Matfield has hailed the All Blacks as the "ultimate challenge" ahead of their Tri-Nations clash in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

The 83-cap veteran from Pretoria says facing New Zealand represents the greatest challenge for South Africa, reigning World Cup champions.

"For any Springbok they are the opponents you most want to play against and most want to beat. Everything about our battles with them is special," the vice-captain told reporters in this central city.

"Playing the All Blacks is still just the ultimate, for any Springbok rugby player. It's just standing there facing the haka, I get goosebumps just thinking about it. It's just very special."

Matfield said New Zealand and Australia are the ultimate tests for the Boks, well ahead of the British and Irish Lions who lost a Test series 1-2 in South Africa this month.

"What made the Lions series special was the fact that we play them only once every 12 years. You only get to face them once in your career so you want to beat them when you do."

Matfield stressed that the Boks will have to raise the level of their game from the Lions series as they make their season debut in the Southern Hemisphere championship at 42000-seat Vodacom Park.

"This is the toughest competition in the world. New Zealand and Australia are the teams you measure yourself against. They are the teams you have who defeat to be number one."

The 32-year-old master forward shares with Bok coach Peter de Villiers a reluctance to accept being favourites to defeat the All Blacks, who won the opening match last weekend against Australia 22-16 in Auckland.

"New Zealand have come to South Africa in recent years and achieved some good wins on the Highveld, but altitude is a factor so we must look to apply continuous pressure," he said.

Matfield, whose lock partnership with man mountain Bakkies Botha is rated the best in the world, said being a World Cup, Tri-Nations and Super 14 winner has not lessened his hunger for glory.

"In my eight years of playing for the Boks I have won only one Tri-Nations title so it would be nice to get another and that means winning our three home games before travelling to Australasia."

South Africa have a poor Tri-Nations record, finishing last in the previous three seasons of a championship dominated by the All Blacks with nine titles from 13 attempts.

South Africa and New Zealand square off again next weekend in Durban, followed by a visit to Cape Town from the Wallabies seven days later, offering the world champions a chance to build a healthy lead on the standings.