Now for the big test

South Africa's road to the No1 spot on cricket's test rankings starts here tomorrow.

In 22 days' time, it could end in Wellington.

For that to happen, it will require smooth sailing in all three of their upcoming tests against New Zealand - and, according to South Africa coach Gary Kirsten, a more dominant showing.

"We've played some sort of indifferent test cricket of late and we've put our peg in the ground in terms of what we want to achieve as a test match side," Kirsten said at Dunedin's University Oval, where the first test starts late tonight South African time.

"We know that we've got to be able to play in any conditions and make the type of plays that are going to allow us to really have the success we are looking for."

South Africa won two of the five home tests they have played under Kirsten, losing once to Australia and once to Sri Lanka.

The New Zealand tour is Kirsten's first away from home since taking charge and it will be an indicator of how close South Africa are to being the best test outfit.

"The mark of great cricket teams is that they are able to go away and make the performances," Kirsten said. The New Zealand media have picked South Africa as favourites to win the series, with some of them referring to the Proteas as "the best side in the world".

Daniel Vettori did not go that far, though. "If England hadn't lost 3-0 [to Pakistan] then you could still talk about them," he said. "But I think South Africa are playing good cricket and they've got the personnel to certainly be up there."

Kirsten is also circumspect about the praise. "I'm certainly not going to take that bait. How well we can handle the conditions will determine our success," he said.

Kirsten still has vivid memories of playing his last series in New Zealand, in 2004, when temperatures hovered at around 10C.

Overhead conditions usually dictate the behaviour of the pitch in Dunedin, but with clouds around and moisture in the air, swing and seam are expected to feature.

Kirsten said South Africa will likely not be tempted to field an all-pace attack, which would probably leave Marchant de Lange on the bench. "It's always nice to have a spinner in your test side. It's very important for a number of reasons," Kirsten said.

South Africa's XI is expected to be the same as the one that took to the field for the New Year's test against Sri Lanka. Alviro Petersen opens the batting with Graeme Smith while Jacques Rudolph will come in at No6.

The match will give Smith an opportunity to face one of his many nemeses, New Zealand's Chris Martin, who has a reputation for troubling left-handers. Martin has dismissed Smith six times.