South Africa will be at full strength in the opening Castle Lager/MTN Test match against Sri Lanka at Wanderers starting Friday after key all-rounder Jacques Kallis passed a fitness during the team's final practice session on Thursday morning.

Kallis had injured his hamstring during South Africa's crushing defeat over Bangladesh at Potchefstroom 10 days ago and had been sufficiently doubtful for the selectors to call up Easterns all-rounder Andrew Hall as cover.

But Kallis batted in the nets and bowled off a full run-up during three-hour practice, satisfying Physiotherapist Shane Jabbar that he could play a full part in the Test.

That leaves South Africa needing to decide whether to gamble on playing five fast bowlers and no specialist spinner on a green-tinged pitch that promises plenty of seam movement.

According to skipper Shaun Pollock, the final decision will only be made on the morning of the match: "We will have see what the overhead conditions are like tomorrow morning and see what the wicket is like. It is always a bit risky going into a Test match without a spinner but maybe the conditions will warrant playing five fast bowlers."

Pollock admitted that Sri Lanka posed a far tougher challenge than Bangladesh and urged his side to raise their game accordingly.

"It is definitely a step up for us this series," he said. "Bangladesh are the minnows of world cricket whilst Sri Lanka are far more established with some quality players.

"They have Murali, who is probably going to become the world's leading wicket taking in the future, and have a batting line-up that has been settled for some time now.

"They have a pretty balanced side and are going to be a tough nut to crack. We are going to have play some good cricket."

Muttiah Muralitharan, who has taken 70 wickets in just 10 Tests against South Africa was identified by Pollock as the major threat even if conditions are not expected to be in his favour.

"Murali is the main man and the one to watch out for," he said. "He is a hell of an effective bowler – anyone who turns the ball as much as he does is going to cause problems, not only for the top class batters but the tail which he can wrap up very quickly."

But Pollock believes his batters have done their homework and will be equal to the challenge posed by the dangerous off-spinner.

"We have played against him enough times and have had some good discussions bout playing him," he revealed. "It is all about each individual working out a game plan that he is comfortable with."

South Africa have recalled middle order batsman Neil McKenzie to the squad ater the right-hander, an excellent player of spin bowler, scored an impressive hundred against Sri Lanka in the tourists first warm-up game at Kimberley.

McKenzie's Titans team-mate, fast bowler Steve Elworthy, is another to be recalled, having also impressed the selectors for the A side. His last of two Test matches was at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand in 1999.

Elworthy and left-arm spinner Claude Henderson appear to be battling out for the last place in the side.

South African preparations have been overshadowed by high profile comments from Sports Minister Ngonde Balfour that suggested he was less than supportive of the white members of the team.

Pollock revealed that Balfour had faxed a personal assurance that this wasn't the case and that the team had his full support on the field. Nevertheless, Pollock confirmed his disappointment with the comments.

"The Sports Minister sent me a fax and I read that out to the guys today before practice and we have put it behind us," he said. "It was disappointing because when guys go out to represent the country you want them to have the full support of the minister."

South Africa squad: Shaun Pollock - Captain, Mark Boucher - Vice-captain, Steve Elworthy, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Mornantau Hayward, Claude Henderson, Jacques Kallis, Gary Kirsten, Neil McKenzie, Makhaya Ntini, Ashwell Prince, Graeme Smith.

Coach: Eric Simons Assistant Coach: Corrie van Zyl Physiotherapist: Shane Jabbar Fitness Trainer: Andrew Gray Manager: Goolam Rajah

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