Springboks captain Jean de Villiers says South Africa's winning record over Australia in Perth should count for something when the two sides fight to stay alive in the Rugby Championship on Saturday at Patersons Stadium.

South Africa have three wins and a draw from their six matches against the Wallabies in the west and de Villiers admits Perth does feel a bit like a home away from home for his side, who are smarting from a last-start draw against Argentina.

The Wallabies 42 per cent success rate against the Boks in Perth looks sickly compared to a 62 per cent winning record over South Africa at all other Australian venues.

Both teams attended a public event in Perth on Wednesday and the place was swamped by South African fans.

De Villiers says there's no doubt his team enjoy more support in Perth than anywhere else on their touring schedule and urged his team to take advantage of their obvious leg-up in what shapes as a desperation battle for two under pressure teams.

"It's always good to have the odd supporter in your favour," de Villiers said.

"It definitely makes the jet lag and all of that a bit easier in that it's a shorter flight, the time difference isn't that much and you're able to adapt a bit quicker.

"We have had success in the past so surely that must count for a little bit but ... it's Test match rugby, we have to be professional."

Wallabies prop Ben Alexander was part of the 2009 Australian team that fell to the Boks in Perth.

But Alexander says Australia are on guard for an ambush.

"That was the year they were the best in the world, and they touched us up in that game," he said.

"It's definitely a happy hunting ground for them ... they do have quite a big fan base over here and that's going to help them make our challenge even tougher.

"But we're up for it."

In the Wallabies' last-start loss to New Zealand at Eden Park, All Blacks powerhouse Sonny Bill Williams exposed Quade Cooper and Berrick Barnes defensively.

South Africa are sure to follow suit and test out that midfield channel with their big centres Frans Steyn and de Villiers.

However, overall Cooper and Barnes do enjoy a 6-1 record when partnered together at Test level.

De Villiers says No.12 Steyn has SBW attributes but said breaking through the Wallabies defence is easier said than done.

"He's got the ability to do the same as a Sonny Bill Williams ... but they've also changed their midfield (with Adam Ashley-Cooper moved to outside centre), so that changes their defensive unit," he said.

"Hopefully we can get the momentum we need in the midfield but with Ashley-Cooper there I think they'll be solid in defence."