IT was a case of who to believe.

The underdog Australians talked up their chances yesterday while the South Africans played down theirs in a game of cat and mouse before today's tri-nations rugby international in Sydney.

World champions South Africa are firm favourites after their solid win over Fiji last week and Australia's record 43-6 humiliation by New Zealand in Wellington.

Australian coach Greg Smith, said he hoped for a 60 per cent improvement on last weekend's effort but he stressed they were a young side in a rebuilding stage.

But Smith, who took over this season from Bob Dwyer, conceded the Australians would have to regain the respect they lost in the slush and horizontal rain of Wellington's Athletic Park.

"Regardless of the result, we want them to legitimately be able to walk off the field and have respect, and that was something we didn't have last week."

South African captain Francois Pienaar installed the Wallabies as favourites when he heard Smith was forecasting a big improvement.

Although the South Africans traditionally play a powerful forward orientated game, they also have the half-back partnership of Joost van der Westhuizen and Henry Honiball.