South Africa head coach Mark Boucher admitted the hosts are in a "rebuilding phase" but backed the Proteas to still come out triumphant over the touring Sri Lankan side in the two-match Test series, starting Boxing Day (December 26) in Centurion.
Boucher's team also have the previous series loss in home conditions to avenge with the Lankans, who had rewritten history books in early 2019 by whitewashing South Africa 2-0 and becoming the only Asian side till date to win a Test series in the rainbow nation.
"We're in a rebuilding phase and we've got some youngsters around but we're playing in conditions that suit us better than the opposition," Boucher told reporters, as quoted by AFP.
"If we hit our straps and execute the plans we've put in place I think we'll give ourselves a very good chance to win against them."
Talking of the last visit by Sri Lanka, Boucher feels the shock defeat can be used as an inspiration to stamp their authority this time.
"I didn't watch a lot of it but it's something we can channel to our advantage. We can't just coast into this as a team."
The South Africans, who have won all of their previous four Centurion Tests versus Sri Lanka, Boucher informed, have delayed the final selection of their playing XI, considering "a couple of niggles" involving fast bowlers Lungi Ngidi and Glenton Stuurman.
Both Ngidi and Stuurman went through intensive training on Thursday but Boucher said they'll be assessed after another night's rest.
The visitors also have a major injury concern to deal with, as Suranga Lakmal nurses a hamstring strain. Described as the "the leader of our attack" by coach Mickey Arthur earlier this week, Lakmal will be a big miss if unavailable for the first Test.
Touring skipper Dimuth Karunaratne told journalists that they have the quality to match South Africa's pace attack.
"If you look at pace, we're about equal," he said. "I think the batsmen will be the difference. Whoever has the better batting side has a good chance of winning the series."
The two-Test series is a crucial part of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle and will be played without crowds because of the surge of COVID-19 cases in South Africa.
