Matt Cockbain has warned his Australian team-mates against complacency when they take on South Africa in their next Tri-Nations match.

After three consecutive international defeats, the Springboks are under intense pressure from home, with coach Nick Mallett's job under scrutiny and several players under threat.

But flanker Cockbain, who is likely to be on the reserves bench in the Olympic Stadium on Saturday, insisted they still had the ability to wreck the Wallabies' hopes.

In a similar situation last year, the Springboks bounced back from four consecutive defeats to beat Australia 10-9 in Cape Town and deprive the Wallabies of the Tri-Nations title.

"Australia's been in this position before when we've played five weeks with injury.

"When they do get that criticism back home, they dig their heels in, it's happened before so we will be very wary on Saturday night."

Cockbain strained his medial ligament in the second Test against Argentina in Canberra last month.

Winger Ben Tune, who has not played a Test all year because of persistent leg injuries, trained fully this week and should be eased back into action.

Cockbain said he expected nothing more than joining World Cup team-mate Tune as part of the reserves in a game Australia must win to have any chance of capturing its first Tri-Nations crown.

"It'll be five weeks this weekend since I've played, so it'll be asking a bit too much for me to go straight into the starting 15," he said.

"Hopefully, I'll get 20 minutes off the bench to get into the groove. I'm not going to worry too much about getting into the starting side, I just want to be part of it again.

"These days the bench is always used a lot, so I could even be on for half a game."

South Africa's injury worries have already led to three players being sent home this week, but three more stricken Springboks trained yesterday and should be fit for Saturday night.

Hooker Charle Marais (back), outhalf Braam Van Straaten (neck) and second-row Jannes La Buschagne (rib) all got through yesterday's training and should be named in the team today, while flanker Corne Krige is still doubtful.

Krige's x-rays on the rib injury he suffered in last Saturday's 2512 loss to New Zealand did not reveal a fracture, but he was still suffering from soreness and Mallett will decide today whether to name him.

Replacement forward Mark Andrews and AJ Venter arrived late on Monday and both trained yesterday, with Andrews expected to be named on the bench.