Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus will name his matchday squad at a media conference at Southern Sun Hyde Park from 14:00 on Thursday, 20 August, two days before the Springboks face the All Blacks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday, 22 August.
The Thursday announcement is later than has typically been the case under Erasmus, who has generally revealed his Springbok teams on a Monday or Tuesday during Test weeks. This time, however, the coach has opted to keep his selection under wraps until just two days before kick-off.
The announcement will follow a busy week of preparations for the Springboks, with Erasmus and a selected player already scheduled to face the media on Monday.
Assistant coach Felix Jones and three players will then address the media on Tuesday, before the squad's first open training session at Wits on Wednesday.
Following Thursday's team announcement, the Springboks will complete their preparations on Friday with the official team photograph at 10:00 and their captain's run at Ellis Park from 11:00.
The Springbok captain will then address the media at 13:30 on Friday, before the squad turns its attention fully to Saturday's blockbuster clash.
The Ellis Park Test is the first of four matches that will decide Rugby's Greatest Rivalry, with the Springboks and All Blacks set to renew one of international rugby's most celebrated battles.
The Lions gave New Zealand an almighty scare with a dominant first-half performance before the All Blacks were able to fight their way back to a 41-35 win at Ellis Park on Tuesday night.
There was a lot of disappointment after the Springboks' loss to the All Blacks at Ellis Park, but just why exactly did they come up so short?
Rassie Erasmus says the anticipated wet weather, and Handre Pollard's familiarity with the Cape conditions, prompted him to select the two-time World Cup winner for Saturday's All Blacks rematch.
Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen admitted his side are a little undercooked for their Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour match against the All Blacks but believes the occasion will help elevate their performance.
