IF the Wallabies are to achieve a first-up Tri Nations victory, they must achieve the Secret Seven.

1 Nullify Victor Matfield. Without doubt the most important player on the field is the Springboks skipper. After listening to the nonsensical comments from the Springboks team management, it's not surprising to hear from those in the know that the senior Springboks players have an important role in keeping it all together. This is nothing new - as numerous teams, including past Wallabies line-ups - have relied on senior performers to get the team home after the coaching staff has been exposed as being out of their depth. This is where Matfield is so important. He is an accomplished leader, and a crucial on-field influence. One can see why the Wallabies were so eager to have Dan Vickerman available for this match to ensure they had someone who could keep Matfield at bay. Matfield is unquestionably the best lineout exponent in the world, often doing the work of three men. His ability to know where opponents are going to throw is uncanny, allowing him to put extreme pressure on opponents' throw-ins. That's why the heat is on Nathan Sharpe to really step up. Sharpe's Test future hinges on how he performs tonight.

2 Take advantage of a lighter Springboks scrum. It might sound strange to argue that a Springboks pack could be vulnerable, particularly as South Africa's pack previously had the reputation of being carnivores eating everything in their way. But the suspension of eye-gouger Bismarck du Plessis has given the Wallabies an advantage. While his replacement, Schalk Brits, is great in open play, there are queries about his scrummaging. Brits is eight kilograms lighter than du Plessis, and the Wallabies believe they can use that to their advantage. Sure, the Wallabies forwards know how to talk it, but often fail when the pressure is on. But so far so good with the Wallabies forward effort this year.

3 Put pressure on centre Francois Steyn. While Steyn astounds all with his extraordinary field goal kicks from 60 to 70 metres out, and has exceptional skills, he has often disappeared when playing Australian sides. Certainly, the Waratahs had no problems with him this season, and discovered that if they get in his face, he can be forced into making elementary errors. He also misses a lot of field goals, especially when he disrupts patterns with a desperation shot at the sticks. Watch out for Stirling Mortlock, who has been excellent in midfield defence this year, putting his sights on Steyn, and getting him when he least expects it. And Steyn is not an outside-centre.

4 Work the J.P. Pietersen wing. A crucial element in the game will be how Peter Hynes handles Bryan Habana. This will be Hynes's first major Test challenge. He has shown enough in defence in his opening three internationals to indicate that Habana will be troubled. But where the Wallabies can take the advantage is in the Lote Tuqiri-J.P. Pietersen battle. Pietersen can be exposed, especially with the high ball, and it is certain that Matt Giteau and Berrick Barnes will attempt to turn the Tuqiri-Pietersen duel into a high-flying affair with cross-kicks. Tuqiri and Mortlock will have to ensure Pietersen is not given space.

5 Matt Giteau must outplay Butch James. James is already saying the right things, such as that Giteau is getting into the Daniel Carter master-class category, to indicate that the Springbok could be distracted by his opposite number. Giteau is in a class above James, but must watch out for the Springbok's brutal defensive style, which clearly irritated All Blacks coach Graham Henry during their two-Test series when Carter was hit late. James is a good midfield kicker, and will use that option often, but Giteau is also improving quickly in that area, and his pace and deft change of options should expose James.

6 Restrict Ricky Januarie's snipes from the breakdown and scrum. It was not surprising that the Wallabies spent a lot of time at training this week working on their inner defensive drills, especially around the breakdown. What was so glaring from the Springboks' Test win in Dunedin was how they relied heavily on their halfback Januarie being destructive in charging from the breakdown and opening up space in the middle of the field. If he can do it for the second Test running, Januarie will prove he is a genius, because the Wallabies, whose defence is second to none, are ready to pounce.

7 Don't retaliate. The Springboks have cleaned up their act somewhat since going on an eye-gouging rampage in Brisbane a few years ago, but they do know how to antagonise. The trick against a side that loves playing the persecution card is to be aggressive, but avoid being baited into retaliating. It is paramount that the Wallabies have 15 men on the field for the whole 80 minutes. A sin-binning or two could well lead to a Test loss.

Prediction: Wallabies by 2.