Much of the cricketing public may even have forgotten about a epic test series that is currently well poised at 1-1 with 2 matches to play, but not the Proteas.

Captain Faf Du Plessis in his turn says the off field politics may have dominated headlines but it was important for the team to prepare well and not let the external factors play mind games as any mistake on the field could be costly.

"The guys are still really focused and really motivated, the series has been very good with 2 quality teams trying to compete against each other and its been some great cricket."

"If you look at the last 2 games, if there is an hour or a hour and a half that one team slips up, the other is so strong that they push ahead," the skipper added.

Morne Morkel and Temba Bavuma are in line to return to the Proteas side for this test with 21-year-old Lungi Ngidi struggling with a toe injury while Bavuma returns after recovering from a hand injury.

Bavuma was initially replaced by Theunis De Bruyn but after scoring just 58 runs in two Tests so far, the VKB Knights man falls out of the starting XI.

This third test to be played at Newlands in Cape Town will get underway at 10:00 on Thursday morning.