Two of the All Blacks most experienced hands, halfback TJ Perenara and hooker Codie Taylor relish the chance of playing again at South Africa's Emirates Airline Park fortress in Saturday's Rugby Championship Test at 17:00 (SA Time).
Eliminating errors, reducing indiscipline and managing tackle heights are three vital factors for the All Blacks in coping with South Africa's intensity in the first of their two Lipovitan D Rugby Championship Tests at the weekend.
Perenara said: "It's a massive opportunity for us to come to Ellis Park to play against a really good South Africa team."
His previous experience at the ground showed him the need to be ready for everything involved in the challenge of the home crowd's intensity, the altitude, and the contest.
"But the rugby itself, they're two very different teams, different players with different styles of game now."
The inexperienced inside-back combination of halfback Cobus Reinach and first five-eighths Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu had shown they were outstanding players.
"Sacha's quite young and new to the environment, but he's played some amazing rugby, and he's shown at all levels how good he can be, and then you've got Cobus, whose attacking game is one of the best in the world. "You see him running the ball and the speed that he injects into an offensive outfit is only going to be good for them."
He added that he is happy with how his combination with flyhalf Damian McKenzie is developing. "The way he plays the game, the way he approaches a game only bleeds more confidence and I'm enjoying that combination."
Perenara has also seen growth in understudy Cortez Ratima. "Every time he's got an opportunity in a Test, he's played well. He's got an accurate pass, and he's physical, too. He enjoys getting among the physical side of the game.
Hooker Codie Taylor said nothing changed for the two packs. "The old foe, they're always going to come at the set piece, and they back themselves there, and rightly so; they've been dominant in that for a long time.
"We have to make sure we get our stuff right to nullify any of that, and also take the opportunities that come our way."
Taylor said law changes have denied some of the ploys South Africa used, but that didn't stop them from finding other ways to exploit the laws.
The All Blacks enjoyed coming to Ellis Park and playing in the arena. "We've talked about it being the greatest place to play against one of the most dominant rugby teams, the environment, and its hostility.
"But, also as an All Blacks, it's where you want to play. You want to be on the big stages and this is it."
He wasn't surprised by lock Eben Etzebeth being included in the South Africa squad midweek. "I thought he'd play anyway. He's a warrior, that man, and will do anything to represent his country. We saw that last year when he played in New Zealand after some devastating news. So, he loves his country and wants to be out there."
Taylor said playing in South Africa after losing the Super Rugby connection was unique because it involved playing against a different brand of rugby. He feels South Africa has evolved its game and is more attacking.
"It will be a special experience with some of our new boys that haven't been over here but, it's exciting."
