James Hook is back in midfield for Wales © Getty Images

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News: Gatland demands 'ruthless' 80 minutes

News: Pienaar not underestimating Phillips

Matches: Wales 25 - 29 South Africa

Players/Officials: James Hook | Frans Steyn

Tournaments/Tours: South Africa tour

Teams: South Africa | Wales

Wales take on South Africa at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday with their sights set on only their second win over the Springboks.

Warren Gatland's side produced a massive forward effort last weekend but were pipped 25-16 by Australia's superb backline, while the Springboks scored a narrow but deserved 23-21 victory to help wreck Ireland's big day out at the newly-redeveloped Lansdowne Road.

Time is running out for the home side to prove that they can mix it with the southern hemisphere superpowers and the game will carry added significance given their capitulation against the Springboks in June.

Wales - Player to Watch: James Hook is back in midfield and will be hoping to add the creativity that Wales lacked against Australia. Has solid performers either side of him in Stephen Jones and Tom Shanklin and should have the freedom to get a reinforced backline moving.

Wales - Team News: Teenage Scarlets wing George North wins his first cap in the back-three alongside fit-again fullback Lee Byrne. Martyn Williams replaces the injured Sam Warburton at openside while Ryan Jones and Andy Powell return on the bench.

South Africa - Player to Watch: His recent dealings with the national team have taken on the look of a soap opera but it's hard to doubt the quality possessed by Racing Metro's Frans Steyn. He starts at outside-centre and adds pace and a huge boot to a Springbok backline that needs to repay a few favours to their pack after last weekend's win in Dublin.

South Africa - Team News: Steyn's inclusion means that Zane Kirchner drops to the bench. Stand-in skipper Victor Matfield will break the Springbok caps record by playing his 103rd Test.

Key Battle: Wales will have few fears about the potency of their pack after demolishing Australia last weekend, placing added onus on the performances of Mike Phillips and Stephen Jones at halfback. Ruan Pienaar and Morne Steyn worked well in Dublin and the Welsh duo must ensure that the pace remains high throughout in order to stretch the visitors.

Trivia: Wales have only beaten South Africa once - 29-19 in 1999 - a game in which current fly-half Jones was an unused replacement.

Stats: South Africa centre Jean de Villiers needs one try to move level with World Cup-winning scrum-half Joost van der Westhuizen as the Boks' highest try-scorer against Wales - he currently has five tries in five Tests.

Quote Unquote:

"We know this is a bold selection, but we have always tried to look at the bigger picture and George is the bigger picture. At 6ft 4in and 16st 7lbs he gives us quite a canvas to work with." - Wales boss Warren Gatland talks up winger George North.

"Frans has that X-factor that is much-needed in games. He is a player who may be average for 60 minutes, but over 80 minutes he can pull something out of the bag." - South Africa boss Peter De Villiers.

Prediction: Wales don't beat the southern hemisphere sides often and in June showed that they lack the composure to get across the line. A big improvement is required in that regard but it will come too soon for them this weekend against a Bok side emboldened by their win in Ireland.