The All Blacks arrived in South Africa in a confident mood, but well aware that it will be another "huge step up" when they face the Springboks in Round Two of the Tri-Nations competition in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

No.8 Rodney So'oialo and centre Conrad Smith were both singing the Bok praises, following their arrival at their Gauteng base on Monday.

The Kiwis will be based in Pretoria till Thursday, before flying to Bloemfontein for Saturday's Test.

So'oialo described the Boks as a "formidable outfit", based on the South Africans' 2-1 series win against the British and Irish Lions.

"They're probably the best team so far by the way they've been performing," So'oialo said.

"They played outstandingly against the Lions.

"Yeah, it is going to be a step up, especially [with them] at home, with the crowd support they'll have.

"It's going to be a huge game for us."

Smith said the Boks will be looking to build on their Lions series victory in the same way that the All Blacks used their 2005 3-0 whitewash of the Lions to kick on and win the Tri-Nations.

"I know they would have finished that series and will be wanting more success," Smit said.

"You just get a thirst for more.

"When we won the 2005 Lions series we were really excited about the Tri-Nations because you get that success under you belt and you just want to keep playing and win more trophies.

"They will have the confidence of winning that series, which was a big challenge for them, and they will be pretty determined to perform well in this Tri-Nations."

Despite the enormity of the task awaiting them, So'oialo said he was keen for more action - following his first game after an injury enforced lay-off since the Super 14 semifinals.

"It's bloody good now. It's awesome," So'oialo said of his game against the Wallabies at the weekend.

"That break has been terrific for me, not only physically but mentally," he said, adding: "I'm ready to put the body on the line again."