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Cape Town - Proteas coach Ottis Gibson has urged his fast bowlers to remain positive and run in hard in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
READ: 'Positive' cricket key as Proteas wrap up Test prep
The Proteas wrapped up their preparation in Colombo with a drawn two-day warm-up match against a Sri Lanka Board XI.
The speedsters struggled in their warm-up with Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada failing to get any wickets while Lungi Ngidi took one - with the spinners taking eight wickets (Dean Elgar 1, Shaun von Berg 2, Tabraiz Shamsi 5)
Despite the spin-friendly conditions, Gibson revealed that he would likely opt for three paceman and two spinners for the Galle Test.
"Vernon and Dale have played here before, so it was new for Lungi and for Rabada," Gibson told the media on Sunday.
"It's good for them to see what it's going to be like when the Test match starts. It's not going to be a place like Joburg where they see the ball flying through to the 'keeper and the slips. Sometimes it might bounce twice before it gets to the 'keeper.
"But then that's when your strong character comes in, and you have to suck it up, run in, keep trying to hit the deck and be effective and get wickets."
Gibson admitted that although Rabada and Ngidi have never played a Test in Sri Lanka, he believes that they still understand their role in the team - even if the wicket will not assist them.
"The conditions might still shock them (the young pacemen), but we make sure that when we're talking cricket around the dressing room, we share experiences from the guys who have been here before," said Gibson.
"We let them (Rabada and Ngidi) know early that this is what to expect. Don't expect to see the ball flying through, but understand that you still have a part to play by running in and bowling at the top of your pace.
"The captain might use you in short spells and even in those four overs, you need to go as hard as you can, then go off to have a break and come back. The captain, I imagine, will do what he can to keep everybody fresh," he added.
The first of two Tests gets under way on Thursday at 06:30 SA time.
Proteas Test squad:
Faf du Plessis (Titans, captain), Hashim Amla (Cape Cobras), Temba Bavuma (Cape Cobras), Quinton de Kock (Titans), Theunis de Bruyn (Titans), Dean Elgar (Titans), Heinrich Klaasen (Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Titans), Lungisani Ngidi (Titans), Vernon Philander (Cape Cobras), Kagiso Rabada (Highveld Lions), Tabraiz Shamsi (Titans), Dale Steyn (Titans), Shaun von Berg (Titans)
