| Scores | Upcoming | Results |
Durban: The series between the world's second and third-ranked teams starts on Thursday with the first test at Kingsmead in Durban and both countries brimming with confidence after success in their last respective series.
The first of the four Tests begins in Durban on 1 March, and there can be no let up in intensity for the hosts.
If the No.1 spot on the MRF Tyres ICC Test Team Rankings had been riding on the India series, here they will be fighting to retain the No.2 ranking by avoiding a 3-0 or 4-0 loss.
Besides, South Africa, for all their success away, have never beaten Australia at home in a series, and it is a statistic they desperately want to change.
Both teams are high on confidence in the format and given that both have storied fast bowlers, it could get fiery.
The pace attacks of South Africa and Australia are preparing to slug it out for supremacy in what is likely to be a bruising four-test series over the next five weeks.
South Africa's bowlers struck fear into India in their opening two tests in January before the tourists settled in and won a consolation game in the three-match series.
This was achieved without injury-plagued veteran Dale Steyn but Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada proved a potent trio, supplemented by the arrival on the test scene of 21-year-old Lungi Ngidi.
He took nine wickets in the last two tests against India at an average of 17.22 and reached speeds of 150 km/h.
Australia produced record-breaking bowling performances as they thumped England 4-0 in the five-test Ashes series from November to January. Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc took 20 or more wickets each, as did spinner Nathan Lyon.
Batting reputations will be tested with Australia captain Steve Smith the primary target for the home bowlers and the hosts looking to exploit some indifferent form of late displayed by talisman AB de Villiers for the South Africans.
An injury to his right index finger has kept De Villiers out for the last fortnight, along with captain Faf du Plessis who has a finger injury of his own to add to recent back ailments.
But both are in the South Africa squad for the first two tests and will be the mainstay of the home batting lineup.
Teams from
South Africa: Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wk), Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada.
Australia: Steve Smith (capt), David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Jhye Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.
Pitch and conditions
The spinners, who often sat out in the previous series in the country, could come in to play a role on the slower surfaces. A passing afternoon shower forecast on the first day.
Stats and trivia
Match facts
1-5 March 2018
Start time: 10:00 local (08:00 GMT)
