A young Lion in the fast lane

Young Highveld Lions fast bowler Kagiso Rabada believes he has what it takes to succeed against Australia.

Although his defining performance came in an age-group fixture, it announced him to the world as a bowler of considerable promise.

Rabada broke the back of the Australian Under-19 team's resistance at last year's Under-19 World Cup, where his hostile 6/25 booked the Baby Proteas a place in the final of the tournament they went on to win.

With his senior provincial debut already sorted out last season, there were glimpses of quality with both bat and ball during the Highveld Lions' massive win over the Titans in the Sunfoil Series at the Wanderers last week.

Convenor of selectors Andrew Hudson announced a makeweight T20 side to face Australia in a three-match series that will precede the five-match ODI series.

The team will be captained by JP Duminy while the big guns recharge their batteries after the three-match ODI series against New Zealand.

Rabada said: "Under-19 cricket and international cricket are two totally different ball games and I can't look at that game [against Australia Under-19] and think I will do the same at international level.

"But what I can take from that game is that Australia and South Africa are very good rivals.

"I will try my best to implement the emotion I had in that game but I know that it comes spontaneously. Whenever you play the Aussies, you always want to beat them."

Australia will be able to call on a full-strength team when South Africa come knocking early next month.

Unless a calamity befalls them in the United Arab Emirates for the upcoming series against Pakistan, they will be captained by hard-hitting Victorian Aaron Finch.

Pace merchant Rabada knows how Australian batsmen enjoy playing fast bowling, but said it was a challenge he needed to overcome . "I feel like it's an opportunity that came sooner rather than later, but I don't think things are happening very quickly for me.

"Whether it comes now or at another stage of my career is a bit irrelevant now. But it is here now and I have to take it with both hands," Rabada said.

"If you are picked, you have to bite the bullet. If you do have a bad game, then you are unlucky. One needs to bounce back in a massive regard, but I do think I will warm to the challenge."