South Australian coach Darren Berry says the playing surface of a redeveloped Adelaide Oval will be better than he expected for the Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia starting Wednesday.

The $535 million redevelopment of the oval is still far from completed, with construction of grandstands and surrounds to continue during the Shield game.

The re-opening of the oval will feature a drop-in pitch, and the outfield grass was laid just three weeks ago, but Berry rates the surface an eight out of 10.

“It’s a lot better than I expected, to be honest,” Berry told reporters on Tuesday.

“The wicket is an absolute belter and the outfield, two weeks ago I was really worried about it. And there is still a little bit of sand on it, but the ball is rolling quite evenly across it.”

Berry said how the pitch would play was uncertain.

“None of us know because it’s a drop-in wicket … but looking at it today, it looks like a really good batting wicket,” he said.

The Redbacks and Warriors meet again, just days after SA completed a 108-run victory in Perth on Saturday.

But WA will be strengthened for the rematch with batsman Shaun Marsh and paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile returning from national duties.

Squads:

SA: Johan Botha (capt), Tom Cooper, Travis Head, Phil Hughes, Michael Klinger, Trent Lawford, Tim Ludeman, Joe Mennie, Sam Raphael, Chadd Sayers, Kelvin Smith, Daniel Worrall, Adam Zampa (12th man to be named, one to be omitted).

WA: Shaun Marsh (capt), Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Michael Beer, Will Bosisto, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Ryan Duffield, Mitch Marsh, Marcus North, Nathan Rimmington, John Rogers, Sam Whiteman (12th man to be named)