This will be the seventh time the two great rugby nations have played each other in Dunedin since 1921, and the All Blacks have won all seven games.
That statistic did not deter de Villiers.
"My grandfather never went to Carisbrook himself. But I turned it around. I'm here," de Villiers told a press conference yesterday.
"It would be great for our country if we can win here. But not so good for your country. But that is what we are here for.
"Yes, we can turn it around. The coaching staff have done their best technically.
It is now up to the players to step up for the challenge."
De Villiers mentioned stand-in Springbok captain Victor Matfield, who gained his first win at Carisbrook last year when he captained the Bulls to a 22-13 win over the Highlanders in the Super 14.
The Springbok pack will be weakened in the absence of regular captain and hooker John Smit, who returned to South Africa with a groin injury.
"We always miss John, but I think Bismarck du Plessis is a good replacement," Springbok forward coach Gary Gold said.
"In certain areas of the game Bismarck has got strengths that John doesn't have. He will bring a lot of vigour to our scrum."
De Villiers does not think the loss of Smit's inspirational leadership will affect the Springboks' chances in the test.
"At this level of rugby, team members are professionals and being paid to play for their country. I don't think external motivation plays a big role," he said.
"The players should be up to the challenge because they have been recognised as the best player in their country in the position.
"External stimulus only lasts for a short time, but internally it will go all the way."
JP Pietersen will play his 17th test on the right wing today.
"He has been working very hard to get back to where he was in the World Cup," Springbok back coach Dick Muir said.
"He's excited about having the opportunity to play. It is a just reward for a guy who has worked hard."
There has been criticism during the week of late hits on All Black first five-eighth Daniel Carter and off-the-ball tackles.
"It is great to see people picking up things that have been part of the game for 100 years," de Villiers said.
"The rules are there to police that."
He said discipline was an important part of rugby at the top level.
"If you don't have the discipline you might as well not be there," he said.
"Discipline is 50% of the game and it is always emphasised by us. We will never let go of that."
An International Rugby Board-organised meeting between the team coaches and referee Matt Goddard was held yesterday, but the outcome remained private.
De Villiers said he was interested in how Goddard would rule on a scrum binding law that was open to interpretation.
All Black counterpart Graham Henry took forward coach Steve Hansen and scrum coach Mike Cron to the meeting.
"The rules are simple, aren't they? You push straight, your head has to be above your hips . . . so that will not be an issue," Henry said.
"It is going lessen the pressure on Goddard tomorrow night, so there is clarity and everybody knows what the situation is."
Henry hoped criticism out of the Springboks camp this week would not influence the inexperienced Australian whistler, and suggested other referees had punished teams with strong scrums.
"I think there have been occasions over the years where the dominant scrum has suffered. That should not be the case."
The All Blacks communicated with the IRB through referee reports after each game.
"We have done that and passed our report to Paddy O'Brien [IRB referee manager] and the IRB. We won't go any further on that," Henry said.
•Shane McKenzie, the referees education officer for the Otago Rugby Football Union, injured his back yesterday, is on crutches and will not be on duty on the sidelines at today's test at Carisbrook.
He sent a text message to a friend saying the test referee had been injured and was surprised this had been passed on to the Otago Daily Times.
"You must be joking. Are you trying to have me on?" McKenzie asked when asked about the condition of the test referee.
