Durban, March 23:

South Africa’s leading wicket-taker Shaun Pollock was set to take his place in the team for the second Test against Australia at Kingsmead on Friday after bowling without any injury worries in the nets on Wednesday.

“He’s fit and he will be playing,” said team spoke-sman Gerald de Kock. Pollock missed the first Test with a back strain.

The Kingsmead pitch is expected to offer pace and bounce, with batsmen likely to face a tough challenge on the first two days.

In recent years it has become easier for batting the longer a game goes on, but with overcast and humid weather expected it could offer something to bowlers throughout. South Africa will be seeking a major improvement to avoid surrendering the series with one match still to play.

Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne said that he believed Australia had an edge over South Africa in Test cricket. “I think our seamers exposed a few technical problems in their batting. Their middle order are always getting exposed because they are one or two down early.”

South African vice-captain Jacques Kallis said he expected a normal Kings-mead pitch. “It’s a wicket that goes around a bit and then becomes a good batting wicket,” he said.