AB confident in 'keeping role

De Villiers explained the difficulty of adjusting to the sudden change, but is happy with the role as long as it contributes to the team success.

“It took me a while but I’m into a nice rhythm,” De Villiers via a statement released to the media on Sunday.

“I had to adapt to a few things but I feel that I understand what my role is and I make time for both keeping and batting.

"It is definitely possible to do both. I don’t feel tired after a day’s play and I don’t feel tired after a Test match, for me it’s more mental than anything else.”

De Villiers withdrew from the recent T20 series against New Zealand for extra rest, and says the down time has left him mentally and physically refreshed.

“It’s all about managing your energy levels and niggles, ultimately about keeping the passion and hunger to do well for your team,” the Proteas’ vice-captain said. “We play a lot of cricket throughout the year and we are in a situation where we have to manage it (the workload).

“I feel refreshed and hungrier than ever and hopefully the results will show.”

He broke his lean streak with the bat with an excellent century against Australia during the last Test match in Perth, and hopes to continue with that form at Newlands - where the Proteas haven’t lost a Test since 2006 - and into the New Year.

“It was very satisfying,” he said about the 169 at the WACA. “It was nice to get the monkey off my back. Personally I needed to tell myself that I could do it. The doubt creeps in when you don’t perform because you have the gloves in hand and I knew that I was entering a new era of my career and I wanted to perform in a certain way, which I did in that innings.

The Proteas have also set their goals for 2013, where they will look to stretch their lead at the top of the ICC Test rankings.

“There is a real sense of care within the team,” he added. “I am part of an amazing team spirit. We are really looking forward to what is lying ahead in 2013. I believe that, if we come through this year with another solid performance, we have a very good chance to dominate for four or five years around the world.”

The two-Tests series against the Kiwis starts at Newlands from Wednesday.