THE All Blacks have announced an unchanged team as they bid to become the first New Zealand side to win a series in South Africa.

Even though fly half Andrew. Mehrtens has made a rapid recovery from a cartilage operation they retain the side which won in Durban last week for the second Test in Pretoria today.

The All Blacks have also shrugged off an injury to giant wing Jonah Lomu, and will field the same side that won the series opener.

All Black coach John Hart is adamant he will not field a player less than fully fit and is more than content with the performances of wing Glen Osbourne and out half Simon Culhane last weekend.

"Although Andrew (Mehrtens) is right after his knee operation and a match winner, his knee is still a bit stiff," said Hart, "and because of that we've decided not to consider him for Saturday just on the off chance that he'll be fit.

"But it's a foregone conclusion that he'll be available for the final Test in Johannesburg the following week.

"The reasons he hasn't been considered have been explained to him, and Andrew now has his sights set on Ellis Park."

This is the ninth successive international in which Hart has named an unchanged pack and in all he has used only 19 players.

The Springboks will not whittle down their 23 strong squad until shortly before the kick off and changes are expected. Seven were made before last week's 23-19 Test defeat.

Lock Mark Andrews said: "We've had a few new players come in because of injuries or whatever and it's been hard for us, but that's no excuse."

Andrews is likely to move back to South Africa's problem position of number four in the line out with Kobus Wiese coming at number two to replace Hanne Strydom.

Centre Japie Mulder should return after a back problem, with Andre Snyman, Mulder's replacement in Durban, expected to be given a second cap on the wing in place of Pieter Hendriks. Justin Swart would make the positional move to the left wing.

If team captain Gary Teichmann is fit he will also play.

Scrum half Joost van der Westhuizen is likely to oust Johan Roux for the number nine jersey in front of his home crowd at Loftus Versfeld.

The Springboks also face a psychological challenge following three successive Test defeats by the All Blacks this season.

All Blacks skipper Sean Fitzpatrick is keen to extend the run. "It's always exciting playing South Africa - it's the ultimate challenge," he said.

"It's certainly going to be tougher than last week because South Africa will have taken heart from their performance in Durban. I think it will be a lot more open game than that one."

Fitzpatrick predicts that this will be the most physical Test of the series and few would argue the fact.