Australia's pace spearhead Peter Siddle says he'sconfident of overcoming lingering exhaustion and being fit to play in thedecisive third test against South Africa starting Friday in Perth.
South Africa quick Dale Steyn, meanwhile, is just as eagerto bowl the tourists to victory and notch what would be just the second SouthAfrican series win in Australia.
Siddle has been recovering from a marathon 33-over bowlingeffort in intense heat in the fourth innings of the drawn second test and willnot bowl in the nets until Thursday. On Wednesday he his body was respondingwell and he is confident he will be ready to play at the pace-friendly WACAGround.
The 28-year-old said his bowling spell Monday was one of thetoughest experiences of his test career.
"It was very dry heat out on the field which was toughwork and a lot of overs ... just a bit of exhaustion and fight trying to getthose last couple of wickets," Siddle said.
Faf du Plessis weathered Australia's bowling attack throughoutthe final day of the second test to score an unbeaten maiden century and helpSouth Africa salvage a draw. South Africa will retain its No.1 test ranking ifit draws the third test at Perth.
Despite Australia's official policy of rotating its fast bowlersto ensure adequate recovery time and avoid burnout, the loss of paceman JamesPattinson for the season with a side strain makes Siddle's fitness for thethird test vital.
"Last couple of days I'll just take it easy and getready tomorrow and prepare then. I feel good, I've got plenty of sleep and thebody is feeling good which is nice," Siddle said. "I woke up feelinggood this morning ... so I'll have a bit of a trundle tomorrow and see how wego there."
The loss of Pattinson midway through the second test alsoprovides a reminder of the dangers of pushing a body too far.
"I don't want to miss any test matches ... but I'vestill got to think of the end result," said Siddle, who says he expects tohave final say on his fitness and doesn't anticipate selectors enforcing therotation policy on him without consultation.
"I'm feeling good now, I've recovered well ... but ifI'm struggling through tomorrow or if I don't feel 100 percent I've got to talkto the captain, the selectors and work out what's best."
Steyn, the ICC's top-ranked test bowler, says South Africais determined to win the test, the series and retain its top test ranking, andhe wants to be the man who makes it happen.
"We didn't come down to Australia to draw," Steynsaid. "Australia has thrown everything they can at us and they stillhaven't beaten us.
"If we can play to what our potential is we're going togo home 1-0, and that would be fantastic."
Steyn has claimed just five wickets at an average of 51.6this series, well below his career figures of 292 wickets at 23.98 each. But heis determined to boost his personal performance when it matters most.
"I always pride myself on standing up and doingsomething when we really need it and hopefully in this game something like thatcan happen," he said. "There's a bit more want, a bit more need. Itall boils down to the last five days, and that extra push.
"I'll do everything I can in this game to try and get aresult and get the wickets to win this test match."
Australia played four quicks in last year's thrashing ofIndia at Perth, and selectors have that option again with Mitchell Starc,Mitchell Johnson, John Hastings and Josh Hazlewood all picked in the squad.
Siddle said Johnson had fitted back in into the side wellafter 12 months out of test cricket.
"We've spent a lot of time together and played a lot ofcricket together so it's nice to have him back around the group," Siddlesaid. "My (Victoria) teammate John Hastings and young Josh Hazlewood isback in the group - so it's a good group of guys."