South Africa are set to make two changes to the side that downed Australia by 231 runs in the second Test.
Wayne Parnell has a groin strain and will miss the series decider in Cape Town, which starts on Saturday, while Quinton de Kock is expected to be dropped after failing to impress on Test debut.
Alviro Petersen, who missed the clash in Port Elizabeth due to a gastro bug, is likely to take de Kock’s place in the side.
Petersen has long opened for his country, but fill-in Dean Elgar’s gritty 83 showed the sort of resolve that was sorely missing in the side’s crushing loss in the first Test at Centurion.
Coach Russell Domingo was tight-lipped on Wednesday about the make-up of his XI, let alone his batting order, but hinted Elgar would shuffle back down to No.6.
“He’s got a (Test) hundred in the middle order as well,” Domingo said.
“Batting at six it’s a massive advantage for him that he has been opening, because he’s often going to face the second new ball.
“That’s a big bonus for us to have, an option like that batting at six. We’ll decide on those things closer to the day.”
Kyle Abbott and Rory Kleinveldt are in line to replace Parnell should Domingo opt for a four-prong pace attack, while allrounder Ryan McLaren has recovered from the worsening headaches he suffered after copping a Mitchell Johnson bouncer to the helmet.
Newlands has traditionally been a happy hunting ground for spinners, but it’s likely the Proteas will persist with part-timers Elgar and JP Duminy instead of recalling Robin Peterson.
“South Africans know we are a nation of fast-bowlers and medium-fast bowlers who do a great job, and that’s just the way we play,” Domingo said.
“The spinner’s role in South African conditions is very much a holding role. I thought JP and Dean did a very good job for us in that second Test match.”