Overcoming South Africa at their most daunting venue is the sort of challenge All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has been waiting for all season.
The two powerhouse rugby nations will play out the Rugby Championship decider in the thin air of Johannesburg on Sunday (NZT), with Hansen relishing the prospect of a fired-up home side at Ellis Park.
"That's probably exactly what this team needs at the moment," Hansen told journalists.
"When you're continually winning all the time you need something to get up for. This is a team that we know are at their best at Ellis Park, you don't get any bigger challenge than that."
Under Hansen, the All Blacks have won 20 of 22 Tests since their 2011 World Cup triumph.
A draw with Australia and loss to England last year are the only black marks.
This year they have overrun a tired French side three times in June, beaten an underwhelming Wallabies twice and seen off two game efforts from the Pumas.
World No.2 South Africa's bid for victory in Auckland three weeks ago was effectively snuffed out when hooker Bismarck du Plessis was sent off, leading to the Springboks' only loss in their last 11 outings.
Hansen expects a brutal response from the hosts at a cauldron-like ground where the All Blacks have won just three of 11 Tests.
The eight losses at Ellis Park make it the scene of the fifth-most New Zealand defeats.
Ten have been suffered at home venues Eden Park (Auckland) and Athletic Park (Wellington), and nine at Lancaster Park (Christchurch) and the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Of those four venues, only Eden Park is still used for Test rugby.
"We can be frightened about the crowd's influence, or we can embrace it," Hansen said.
"There's a good mental strength in the side. It's when we're under pressure that we're at our best.
"All the cards are probably stacked in their favour but we've won here before and we're a good enough side to win here again."
To win the Rugby Championship, the Springboks must deny the All Blacks a bonus point and score four tries in the process, something haven't achieved in their last 21 Tests against New Zealand.
Hansen expects his opponents to chase the scenario hard, meaning they will turn down penalty shots at goal in favour of kicking for touch and launching lineout drives.
"They'll probably feel reasonably comfortable they've got the wood over us there. We'll have to stop that," he said.
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