South African pace bowler Kagiso Rabada is in contention to play in the first Test against Australia, which starts on Friday. A decision will be left until the last minute.

Batting coach Ashwell Prince said on Tuesday that Rabada bowled well in a two-day intra-squad match in Durban over the weekend. The 31-year-old suffered a hamstring injury in training in June, which had raised doubts about his participation.

Prince said Rabada will keep training with the squad through the week. He admitted the bowler will not be at 100 percent straightaway but added that he is looking good.

Rabada has taken 340 Test wickets and is the leader of South Africa’s pace attack. When the preliminary squad of 18 was named last month, coach Shukri Conrad had warned the team would take no chances with him.

South Africa still have plenty of options. Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen, Anrich Nortje and Dane Paterson are the other quicks. Sunny conditions are expected for the match.