Captain Allan Alaalatoa said Friday that the Wallabies will be better equipped to handle the physicality of South Africa as the teams prepare for wet and slippery conditions in the second Rugby Championship Test in Perth.
Australia were thrashed 33-7 last week in Brisbane and left shell-shocked by the heft of the world champions, who particularly dominated at the scrum.
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It was a reality check after Australia had won three straight matches against Wales and Georgia to kick-start new coach Joe Schmidt's tenure.
With thunderstorms and up to 40mm (1.6 inches) of rain forecast on Saturday, an uncompromising match is expected at Optus Stadium as attention focuses on Australia's battle of strength with the renowned bulk of South Africa.
"Something that the boys are ready for," Alaalatoa told reporters in Perth.
"Some of our boys, it was the first time playing them last week. (They'll) understand that feeling and understand where we need to be better.
"It's a great challenge, it was a tough learning for us after last weekend. We didn't execute the plan that we wanted, and technically we need to be better."
The Wallabies will face a revamped South Africa, who made 10 changes, with only backs Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and forwards Elrigh Louw and Pieter-Steph du Toit retaining their starting places.
Regular skipper Siya Kolisi has been rested, with lock Salmaan Moerat captaining the team for the second time.
"Australia will be desperate to turn things around and we are well aware of that," said a wary Moerat.
"So our challenge will be to be equally as desperate, if not more desperate, on Saturday."
South Africa has prioritised rotating players and building depth ahead of the subsequent four Tests in the Rugby Championship against New Zealand and Argentina.
Moerat insisted, however, that the changes will not mean a let-up in intensity.
"One thing that's for certain is that everyone in this team is desperate for this chance and they want to cement their places in the squad," he said.
Coach Rassie Erasmus may have one eye towards the next World Cup in 2027, to be held in Australia, but South Africa will still boast 14 World Cup-winning players for their first ever Test at the 60,000-seat Optus Stadium.
"That's a decision they want to make," Alaalatoa said. "For us, we've been deliberate and taken ownership of making sure we need to get better."
The Wallabies are expected to be fired up in a determined bid to get back on track under hard taskmaster Schmidt, who took over from Eddie Jones after last year's disastrous World Cup campaign.
"For us as leaders, he (Schmidt) was pretty hard (on us) after the loss," Alaalatoa said.
"The coaching staff has driven the fact that all the attention is back on us and just making sure that we continue to grow our own game.
"We know that we're not the finished product at the moment... We're building towards that."
