The teams enter the round 5 match having experienced contrasting fortunes lately with Australia seeking a third straight win and the Springboks desperate to avoid a fourth consecutive loss.
South Africa believed that they should have won in Brisbane last month instead of throwing away an early 11-point lead in a 23-17 defeat that was followed by a hammering from New Zealand.
While the Springboks fell apart in the second half to lose 41-13 in Christchurch, Australia scored three tries in the opening 12 minutes en route to a 36-20 triumph.
With the All Blacks winning the championship after round 4 thanks to an unassailable 11-point lead, pride and second place are at stake when South Africa and Australia clash.
Australia have lost all six previous tests at the 50 000-seat Loftus Versfeld stadium in a leafy Pretoria suburb, including a 61-22 drubbing 19 years ago.
But 58-cap loose forward Hooper told reporters that he is convinced hours of hard work on the training grounds is about to pay off.
"You can sense the will to win within the camp," he said. "These guys are desperate to succeed in Pretoria and I am convinced that they are going to do so this weekend.
"We are not underestimating the Springboks for one minute. They are hurting after three consecutive losses and that means we must be extra careful. "
Australia skills coach Michael Byrne agreed that dismissing South Africa after away losses to Argentina, Australia and New Zealand would be inviting trouble.
"A desperate Springbok team is a dangerous Springbok team. They are hurting, just like we were recently after six consecutive losses."
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has reacted predictably to the recent change of fortune, making only one injury-enforced change to the team that overcame Argentina.
