Yes Mars will increase to 14 arcsec this opposition and larger again in 2012 until 2018 after which it will get smaller again for 2020. I did a web search for Oppositions of Mars and the found the following link:
http://seds.org/~spider/spider/Mars/marsopps.html
The 2003 opposition was hyped up as being the closest approach for some 25,000 years but you'd be hard pressed to spot the difference in 2018, 2035, 2050.
Any opposition over 15 arc seconds is good with those over 20 very good to excellent. The higher position in the southern sky at closest opposition is a bonus. Note even at 25 arc sec, Mars is half the size of Jupiter at its closest.
However, Mars is appealing to many because of its solid surface, dark features, dust storms and polar caps that can be cleary seen to change size over time (weeks to months). Filters can really help with Mars and if you only buy one get a #21 (Orange).
Enjoy!