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Johannesburg - While the West Indies come into the three-Test series against hosts South Africa amid player wage disputes and a string of poor performances, Proteas captain Hashim Amla says they will not underestimate the tourists.
"There's definitely no need to be complacent against the West Indies," Amla said in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
"They are a team that has a lot of explosive power, they play colourful, exciting cricket."
The West Indies players pulled out of the fifth and final One-Day International (ODI) against hosts India in October over a pay dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).
The remaining ODI, one T20 International (T20I) and the three-Test series were all cancelled.
The first match of their tour begins on December 17 in Centurion, and the top-ranked Proteas will set out to dominate from the start.
Meanwhile, the eighth-ranked West Indies come into the series with six losses from their last 10 Tests, but Amla insisted they would provide a good contest for the Proteas.
"There's no reason for us to hold them in any lighter esteem," he said.
"We've got a good squad and the strength of our team is concentrating on what we do well."
The Proteas, however, come off a 4-1 ODI series loss away against Australia last month, but their 50-over struggles will have been forgotten when it comes to donning the whites, according to Amla.
"I don't think any of the baggage [from Australia] will follow us.
"Test cricket is a largely different format from one day cricket. Being at home with the team we have -- an almost developing Test team -- I don't think that series will impact us."
Amla explained playing the longest format of the game may serve as renewed motivation for the Proteas.
"I think it's quite refreshing actually. We've played a lot of one-day cricket recently and to get the Test matches back into our minds will almost refresh the one-day system.
"We're all looking forward to the red ball training and the disciplines that go with it."
Proteas Test squad:
Hashim Amla (Cape Cobras, captain), AB de Villiers (Titans, vice-captain), Alviro Petersen (Highveld Lions),
Dean Elgar (Titans), Faf du Plessis (Titans), Stiaan van Zyl (Cape
Cobras), Quinton de Kock (Highveld Lions), Vernon Philander (Cape
Cobras), Robin Peterson (Cape Cobras), Dale Steyn (Cape Cobras), Morne
Morkel (Titans), Temba Bavuma (Highveld Lions), Kyle Abbott (Dolphins),
Kagiso Rabada (Highveld Lions)
West Indian tour itinerary:
December 10-12: South African Invitation XI, Benoni
December 17-21: First Test, Centurion
December 26-30: Second Test, Port Elizabeth
January 2-6: Third Test, Cape Town
January 9: First Twenty20 international, Cape Town
January 11: Second Twenty20 international, Johannesburg
January 14: Third Twenty20 international, Durban
January 16: First one-day international, Durban
January 18: Second one-day international, Johannesburg
January 21: Third one-day international, East London
January 25: Fourth one-day international, Port Elizabeth
January 28: Fifth one-day international, Centurion
