Australia are assessing all selection options ahead of the second Test against South Africa in Gqeberha on Sunday as they look to claim the three-match series following a thumping 214-run win in the opening game.
All-rounder Cameron Green will miss out again with an abdominal strain but wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis could win his race to recover from a finger injury.
Whether he would start if fit remains to be seen, as Australia also ponder an all seam bowling attack that would leave out experienced spinner Nathan Lyon.
With bad weather expected on the first two days there is a chance that the game could be shortened, or that conditions would be heavily weighted in favour of the seamers.
"We always look at all options," captain Pat Cummins told reporters on Saturday. "We love playing with Nath. We saw last week, (he took) a couple of key wickets in the first innings. And even the control he gives. It makes the rest of us fast bowlers be able to function around him."
He suggested that Matt Renshaw, who scored 190 and 82 in the first Test in Durban, would remain as a middle order batter, rather than an option to open the innings as he has done before.
"After what Renners did last week, I presume he'll stay at number five," Cummins said.
"What he deserved even more credit for is that we'd asked him to do a different role and he just said straight away 'yep, no worries, whatever the team needs'.
"There were so many positives in addition to the runs he scored last week. He was a delight, and really helped me and Lyon get through those partnerships (with Renshaw)."
South Africa lead the head-to-head in Gqeberha 4-3, with Australia’s last victory there coming in 1997.
South Africa still mulling over permutations for second Test
South Africa have not yet confirmed their playing XI for the second Test against Australia as they assess the likely impact of the weather on the game and consider playing two spinners again.
Captain Temba Bavuma confirmed on Saturday that the team were still mulling over several options for their playing personnel.
"We would like to see what happens tomorrow," he told reporters. "Whether we go with two spinners is probably one of the biggest considerations.
"Whether we go with one spinner, whether we play an all-rounder and which all-rounder that is, it all comes down to the balance of the team. Those are the dynamics we have to consider."
One thing that looks certain is a return to the team for fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, who has been cleared to play after missing the first test with a hamstring injury.
"He has been released by the fitness team and is available for selection. He will obviously be a big addition and a boost to the team on the field. He is raring to go," Bavuma said.
"The bowlers feed massively off him. He leads the attack in everything that he does and brings an extra level of confidence to the unit. Whether he is on the field or off the field, there is always a benefit.
"Any captain would be happy to have a guy like KG in his bowling attack, so that brings a big smile to my face."
Bavuma said his side needed to improve with the bat to challenge Australia.
"We need to be much more ruthless in how we execute and, more importantly, when the opportunity is there, we need to go on and do something big for the team," he said.
"We can take the little good moments that we had with the bat (in the first Test) and build on those."
