Cape Town - Proteas skipper Graeme Smith is expected to be fit for the New Zealand Test series after he sustained a bad blow to his elbow.

Smith was injured in the nets while practicing for the Cape Cobras ahead of their One-Day Cup semi-final against the Titans, which subsequently ruled him out of the Newlands clash played on Sunday. The Cobras won the game by three wickets to advance to the final against the Highveld Lions in Johannesburg this Friday.

"Initially, we thought he would recover in time but because he was in a lot of pain it wasn't worth the risk, especially because he has to be ready to play Test cricket in three weeks' time," Proteas team manager, Mohammed Moosajee, told the ESPNcricinfo website.

Smith is unlikely to play in the three-match Twenty20 series, which starts on December 21, as he has not been part of South Africa's recent T20 squads. The two-Test series starts at Newlands on January 2.

Meanwhile, all-rounder Jacques Kallis, who is recovering from a hamstring injury he picked up on the recent tour to Australia, should also be ready for the Test series.

JP Duminy, however, remains a long-term casualty. The all-rounder ruptured his Achilles' tendon early in the Australia series and will remain sidelined until at least June 2013.

The Proteas conclude their tour against New Zealand with a three-match ODI series starting on January 19 in Paarl.