South Africa and Australia in Look of Momentum in Decider

Durban: South Africa and Australia reckon Friday's decisive one-day game could have a bearing on next month's Test series and both are giving their injured players every chance to prove their fitness for the Durban clash.

The pair are locked on one win apiece in the three-match series with two Tests to come at Cape Town and the Wanderers.

"Both teams have a fair few players who are involved in the Test team as well as the one-dayers," Australia captain Michael Clarke told reporters ahead of the day-night match in Durban.

"If you win the one-day series you take confidence into the next game you play against the same opposition. There's nothing better than winning as a team. It's a great feeling and that's the feeling you want around any team you are a part of."

South African counterpart Hashim Amla has the chance to clinch a series win in his first series as captain.

"At the end of the day you want to win the series, you want to take some momentum into the Test matches," he explained.

"We are not putting a lot of pressure on ourselves. The last game was basically a final for us, if we had lost that we would have lost the series. The way the guys played in the last game was an inspiration and we will try to bring that into the next game."

Proteas wicket-keeper Mark Boucher suffered a painful blow on his right index finger during a net session on Thursday but a team spokesman said Boucher had a "bit of discomfort but nothing untoward" and that the player should be fine for Friday's match.

Australia have slight worries over all-rounder Shane Watson (back) and batsman Shaun Marsh (shoulder) but Clarke said the pair had both trained well on Wednesday and could play.

South Africa are unlikely to change the team that won so handsomely in the second ODI, with Imran Tahir's legspin probably to remain hidden from Australia until the first Test. Mark Boucher was hit on the hand during training on Thursday, but is expected to be fine. The team management will fly someone in if he is not, the likeliest option being Thami Tsolekile who is not involved in a first-class at the moment.

Shaun Marsh has a strong chance to return to the team after recovering from a shoulder problem, and may resume in place of Shane Watson, giving Australia's vice-captain extra time to be fully fit for the Tests. James Pattinson or Mitchell Marsh may also be considered to bolster the pace attack.

Teams from

South Africa HM Amla (capt), J Botha, MV Boucher (wk), JP Duminy, F du Plessis, Imran Tahir, JH Kallis, DA Miller, M Morkel, WD Parnell, RJ Peterson, GC Smith, DW Steyn, LL Tsotsobe.

Australia MJ Clarke (capt), SR Watson, DE Bollinger, PJ Cummins, XJ Doherty, BJ Haddin (wk), MEK Hussey, MG Johnson, MR Marsh, SE Marsh, JL Pattinson, RT Ponting, SPD Smith, DA Warner, CL White.
 
Pitch and conditions
Evening rain is forecast for Durban, with the possibility of a thunderstorm, so the players and spectators may be in for another frustrating match of interruptions and delays.

Stats & trivia

• Australia will retain top spot in the ODI rankings regardless of what happens at Kingsmead. South Africa needed to win the series 3-0 to draw level with the tourists on the ICC table.
• Australia's narrow win over South Africa in Durban in 1997 was due largely to the first significant innings of Adam Gilchrist's international career. Batting at No. 6 and arriving at 50 for 4, Gilchrist smote 77 from 88 deliveries to give the tourists a target they defended grandly.

Match facts
Friday, October 28, 2011 (day/night)
Start time 1430 local (1230 GMT)