Mike Phillips is ready for another physical and verbal confrontation with world champions South Africa in a fierce scrap for Test series survival.

Wales scrum-half Phillips was at his bristling best in last Saturday's first Test, scoring a try as the British and Irish Lions staged a stirring late fightback.

"The South Africans are very confident - they totally believe in their team - and you can't take a backward step against them," he said.

"You have got to get in their faces and meet fire with fire.

"There was a bit of banter out there last Saturday, but I enjoy the confrontation and the chat. It just gets me even more up for it, more focused and switched-on."

There was plenty of friendly verbal fire between 6ft 3in Phillips and renowned Springboks hard-man Bakkies Botha last weekend, with Phillips claiming: "I think Bakkies fancies me!

"He was going on about my sexy blue eyes, or something - I think he was trying to put me off my game. To be honest, I didn't have a comment back.

"The respect was certainly there for each other, though."

The Lions fell 19 points behind in Durban before recovering to score two converted tries during a thrilling finale as South Africa clung on for a 26-21 success.