South Africa bowling coach Charl Langeveldt says his side has "a big decision" to make about whether they play four or five bowlers in the first Test against Australia at the Gabba.
The Proteas have been blessed with quality all-rounders in past decades such as Jacques Kallis, Brian McMillan, Shaun Pollock and Lance Klusener but don't have that luxury in the current squad.
Keshav Maharaj is a Test regular with his left-arm spin and fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje and 206cm left-armer Marco Jansen are a pace quartet that bring variety and quality to the table.
Langeveldt said fitting them all in to the first Test XI would be a juggling act as the Proteas seek to bowl Australia out twice in the opening Test from Saturday.
"It is a hard one. You are always looking for an extra batter," Langeveldt said on Monday after his side's tour match against the Cricket Australia XI in Brisbane.
"You are always looking for an extra all-rounder as well but in Australia you need to take twenty wickets if you want to win Test matches.
"Runs on the board is also important. At the moment we don't have that batter who can bowl us a few overs, whereas Australia have (Cameron) Green and that makes a difference."
If South Africa go with Ngidi, Rabada, Nortje, Jansen and Maharaj, then one of the latter two will bat at No.7 which - based on their Test averages - seems worryingly high.
Maharaj, with an average of 15.87 in 45 Tests, has made four Test fifties, while Jansen scored 48 off 157 balls in the Proteas' recent win against England at Lord's to reveal his batting prowess.
"We have gone with six (batsmen) and five (bowlers) before. It is a big decision but first we will have to see the conditions at the Gabba and how much grass they leave on it," Langeveldt said.
"The captain and selectors will have to make the decision (about) what is our best eleven to win us a game of Test cricket.
"The lower order on a good day have wagged for us and got a few runs but in saying that, the Australian pace attack has quality bowlers as well.
"It is really up to the captain and what he wants. It is a hard decision. It is not an easy decision."
South Africa's batters showed form in the tour match, with Dean Elgar (109), Theunis de Bruyn (88), Rassie van der Dussen (95) and wicketkeeper/batter Kyle Verreynne (80) all shining.
