The ante was ratcheted up a notch further yesterday afternoon, with the news that a cracked rib has put Jacques Kallis out of all the remaining one-dayers. It's a setback for SA because he was meant to open the batting with Graeme Smith; Alviro Petersen, a natural opener who would have batted in the middle order, might need to do the job instead, although Hashim Amla would possibly be a safer bet.

Unlike what transpired at the Wanderers on Friday, there is every prospect of play today.

Stadium manager Malcolm Drysdale said yesterday the weather was expected to clear.

"The ground has fantastic drainage and we are confident that we are going to have a full game," he said.

With neither side able to wrest the early initiative in the series at the Wanderers, they now have it all to do at Centurion.

Proteas coach Mickey Arthur recognised the importance of maintaining the form that helped propel his team to an emphatic victory in the second Pro20 match in Centurion last Sunday.

"We felt we picked up good momentum in the Standard Bank Pro20 Series and our players are raring to go," said Arthur of his team's frustrations on Friday.

With Wayne Parnell expected to return from injury in the third ODI at Newlands on Friday, Dale Steyn's new-ball partner - whether it is Charl Langeveldt or Lonwabo Tsotsobe - would want to make the most of his opportunity today.

Friday's washout would perhaps have held more benefits for the tourists than the Proteas.

Several players have been struggling with injury and the two-day respite would have given some of them the chance to regain full fitness.

Paul Collingwood should be over his back injury, while James Anderson (sore knee) should also be able to take his place in the starting XI.

If Collingwood plays today, he will become England's most capped player in ODIs with 171 appearances.

England have been forced to call for back-up in the form of Liam Plunkett and James Tredwell after Stuart Broad (shoulder) and Graeme Swann (side) were ruled out of the first two ODI matches.

Proteas squad from: Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Alviro Petersen, Albie Morkel, Mark Boucher, Ryan McLaren, Roelof van der Merwe, Dale Steyn, Charl Langeveldt and Lonwabo Tsotsobe.