Injuries are expected to rule veteran lock Victor Matfield and flanker Marcell Coetzee out of the test against the All Blacks in Johannesburg on Sunday morning (NZ time).
While the All Blacks only suffered the loss of wing Waisake Naholo, who fractured his fibula bone in the 39-18 win over Argentina in Christchurch last weekend, the Springboks are likely to be without Matfield and Coetzee because of hamstring and knee complaints, respectively.
There are also concerns around prop Jannie du Plessis and loosie Francois Louw following the Springboks' 24-20 loss to the Wallabies in Brisbane.
Lood de Jager, who replaced Matfield at Suncorp Stadium, may start against the All Blacks.
If Coetzee is ruled out, Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer could switch Schalk Burger to openside flanker to allow Warren Whiteley, who impressed many New Zealanders with his high workrate with the Lions during the Super Rugby season, to start at No 8.
Like All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, Meyer will be mindful he must give some players a gallop before he names his World Cup squad.
Time is fast running out. The Springboks - like the All Blacks - have just three tests left to play before the global tournament.
Hansen has already signalled his intent to change the side that started against the Pumas by leaving Dan Carter and Sonny Bill Williams out of the travelling squad to South Africa.
Meyer also told media following his side's defeat in Brisbane that his team must improve their conditioning.
He didn't blame his side's flagging fortunes in the second half - after they led 20-7 at the break - on poor fitness levels, but still appears concerned his players are not at the required standard.
"One thing we can change is our fitness," he said. "We started working really hard on it in that two weeks before the World XV game and the players expected to do a whole lot more sweating in the training camps that are coming up.
"I don't think Bok teams I have had before have been at optimum fitness. This is a controllable, and we will make sure we are fit to go the distance when it comes in those big World Cup games."
The All Blacks have always enjoyed the ability to play a quick, fast-paced game under Hansen, their superior conditioning often allowing them to pull away from opponents in the final 10-15 minutes.
Against Argentina they played a game based on their power runners out wide, in addition to using No 8 Kieran Read on the fringes, and were determined to keep the ball alive in the tackle.
This strategy wasn't always a success and contributed to a high turnover ratio, but when the passes stuck the All Blacks were easily able to turn around the defensive line.
Although the Springboks would have been annoyed referee Nigel Owens blew a controversial penalty against them in the dying minutes, which allowed the Aussies to kick for a lineout and then mount a successful attack, Meyer was reported as saying his side were no chokers.
He admitted the side missed the leadership of Matfield, who was replaced in the 18th minute, but defended his inexperienced players.
"That was never the case. I thought all of our newcomers showed toughness."
