Richie McCaw is anticipating a different challenge from Heinrich Brussow © Getty Images

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Matches: South Africa 28 - 19 New Zealand

Players/Officials: Heinrich Brussow | Schalk Burger | Sir Graham Henry | Richie McCaw

Tournaments/Tours: Tri Nations

Teams: New Zealand | South Africa

Grounds: Free State Stadium

The All Blacks have turned the spotlight on young South Africa openside Heinrich Brussow ahead of their Tri-Nations meeting in Bloemfontein on Saturday, questioning whether the 23-year-old scavenger has what it takes to step in to the boots of Schalk Burger.

Burger is currently serving an eight-week ban for making contact with the eyes of British & Irish Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald in the second Test last month, and All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw believes that the Springboks will miss his imposing physicality.

"The big thing Burger brought to the game was the real physical side, like the way he really flew into things," said McCaw, who will go toe-to-toe with Brussow for the first time at international level. "I'm not saying Brussow is any different but he's just a little bit smaller and he's perhaps more of a player that attacks the ball on the ground."

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen dismissed comparisons between Brussow and Australia's George Smith, who was a thorn in the side of the All Blacks during his 100th Test appearance last weekend.

"(Smith) and McCaw are probably two of the best in the world and it would be unfair to label (Brussow) as a George Smith just yet," he said. "Maybe in time, but Smith is the complete rugby player isn't he? The other young fellow is just starting out, his job is to make his mark on international rugby.

"We had to be pretty careful when Burger was around too. I don't think you can underestimate how much he brings to the Springboks side, he does play very physically. He's always there isn't he? He's always at the breakdown. So Brussow has to produce the goods and I am sure he will but he's a different type of player."

McCaw will have to be on top form to combat the tenacious Brussow, and is thankful at having pulled through the full 80 minutes of their win over Australia.

"From my point of view, I got 80 minutes under the belt. There was a bit of rust there and I'll be a whole lot better for that 80 minutes, as I'm sure a couple of others will as well," he said. "It gives you a bit of confidence having got through that and got the win but we're under no illusion that last week doesn't mean a whole lot. We're going to be in a pretty physical battle, which is always the case."

There has been speculation in South African media that the two All Blacks Tests - the second is in Durban next week - are regarded by both teams as a mini two-Test series. McCaw suggested the All Blacks would only take that stance if they were successful this weekend.

"We've talked about that, not many teams have come over here and won two in a row," he said. "But next week doesn't matter unless you get the first week sorted so we haven't looked past this week at all really."