Peter Siddle prides himself on bowling to the best batsmen in the world.

But the 29-year-old is quite content that Australia are finally able to tear up their oft-unsuccessful plans for dismissing Jacques Kallis.

A catch went down in his old spot at second slip and allrounder replacement Ryan McLaren wasn’t able to keep the runs down in the second innings, but it was Kallis’ stabilising influence with the bat that the Proteas missed most in the first Test.

Faf du Plessis was given first shot at taking Kallis’ place at No.4 in the batting order and is expected to again be second drop for the second Test that starts on Thursday in Port Elizabeth.

Du Plessis scored three and 18, although he was removed by two almost unplayable balls that would have undone most right-handers.

Siddle, who memorably huffed and puffed for over seven hours at Adelaide Oval in 2012 but was unable to dismiss du Plessis, wants to keep the pressure on the 29-year-old and other inexperienced Proteas.

“A bloke averaging over 50 does leave a big hole,” Siddle said.

“It’s a new spot for him, he’s not down in the lower order any more. He’s got to stand up and be part of setting big totals and be one of their key batsmen.

“There’s a couple of young blokes in that line-up, they’re obviously looking to stand up (after Kallis’ retirement).

“Hopefully we can keep pushing and building the pressure on those guys.

“There’s going to be a lot of pressure for them to stand up in this next Test.”

Siddle also applauded the way centurions Shaun Marsh, Steve Smith and David Warner curbed the influence of Vernon Philander, No.1 in the ICC’s rankings for Test bowlers.

“A lot of teams have sat back and let him build the pressure on them, which has got him wickets,” Siddle said of Philander, who took one wicket in the first Test.

“We’re not sitting back and worried about what he’s going to bring. We can put it back on him, build the pressure.”