It all comes down to the last eighty minutes of a month-long tour that will decide the fate of the 2021 Castle Lager Lions Series as the Springboks and British & Irish Lions it out for a final time.
The momentum has swung back and forth between these two teams over the course of the opening two Tests but with the series all level at 1-1, a ‘cup final’ awaits in Cape Town.
Warren Gatland’s men rose to the occasion in the opening match, coming back from a nine-point halftime deficit to triumph 22-17 thanks to a Luke Cowan-Dickie try and Dan Biggar’s boot.
But the wounded Springboks gave the tourists a taste of their own medicine in the rematch, staging their own second-half fightback to take the second Test 27-9.
The stage is now set for a winner-takes-all decider as the Lions attempt to etch their name into the history books with a first series win on South African soil since 1997.
The Springboks have made three changes to the starting team as Franco Mostert moves from lock to the side of the scrum to replace the injured Pieter-Steph du Toit.
Lood de Jager is promoted from the bench to start alongside Eben Etzebeth as a result while Cobus Reinach replaces Faf de Klerk, who is also ruled out through injury.
Gatland warned there would be changes for the final Test showdown and he was as good to his word, making six alterations to the B&I Lions XV which started the defeat last weekend.
The Tour’s leading try-scorer Josh Adams makes his Test debut for the tourists on the right-wing while Liam Williams comes in at full-back to join Duhan van der Merwe in the back three.
Bundee Aki will also make his Lions Test bow at inside centre alongside Ireland teammates Robbie Henshaw while Welsh duo Wyn Jones and Ken Owens start in the front row.
Ali Price returns to the starting fold after coming off the bench in the second Test and Scotland teammate Finn Russell could earn his first Lions Test cap from the replacements bench.
Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber said: “This group of players are among a handful of players in the history of South African rugby that have an opportunity to clinch a series against the Lions after winning the Rugby World Cup.
“Every player in this squad understands what a rare honour that is. I don’t think one needs any more motivation than that to win this weekend. We are preparing for a physical encounter.
“We know that every small battle will count if we want to win the series. This match is as important to us as it is for the Lions, so we know it is going to be tight.
“We will have to capitalise on every opportunity we have to score points and be effective in every area of our game. As Springboks, big moments such as these excite us.
Lions head coach Warren Gatland said: “The matchday 23 have an incredibly special opportunity in front of them – to seal a Lions Series victory in South Africa.
“It doesn’t get much bigger than this and we’re excited by the challenge that faces us on Saturday. We’ve no excuses for last week.
“The Springboks put us under pressure in the second half and deserved the win. We have to be much better than that second-half performance, and I believe we will be.
“We’ve got to be positive in terms of shifting the ball when we do create opportunities and those are the things we’re working hard on this week. We want to keep up that tempo this weekend.”
Prediction: Springboks by 8
If the first two Tests are anything to go by, the spotlight will once again be on the back three of both sides and the way they deal with the aerial bombardment.
Away from the backline, the front row battle will also take centre stage as the Lions will look to combat the Springboks’ physicality.
The Injury to South Africa's Pieter-Steph du Toit will definately have a big effect on their "physicality".
Teams:
Springboks: 15. Willie le Roux, 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 13. Lukhanyo Am, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 10. Handré Pollard, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Jasper Wiese, 7. Franco Mostert, 6. Siya Kolisi (c), 5. Lood de Jager, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Frans Malherbe, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 1. Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16. Malcolm Marx , 17. Trevor Nyakane, 18. Vincent Koch, 19. Marco van Staden, 20. Kwagga Smith, 21. Herschel Jantjies, 22. Morné Steyn, 23. Damian Willemse.
The British & Irish Lions: 15. Liam Williams, 14. Josh Adams, 13. Robbie Henshaw, 12. Bundee Aki, 11. Duhan van der Merwe, 10. Dan Biggar, 9. Ali Price, 8. Jack Conan, 7. Tom Curry, 6. Courtney Lawes, 5. Alun Wyn Jones (c), 4. Maro Itoje, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 2. Ken Owens, 1. Wyn Jones. Replacements: 16. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17. Mako Vunipola, 18. Kyle Sinckler, 19. Adam Beard, 20. Sam Simmonds, 21. Conor Murray, 22. Finn Russell, 23. Elliot Daly.