AUS vs SA: Du Plessis expects Australia response

Du Plessis said he expected a response from Australia, but is eager for his side to focus on its own execution. Fresh from a 177-run loss in Perth, the hosts have come under fire heading into the second Test starting Saturday.

Du Plessis said Maharaj could miss out, meaning Morne Morkel and Kyle Abbott come into the XI.

South Africa captain Faf Du Plessis expects to face a "hurting" Australia in the second Test in Hobart. Fresh from a 177-run loss in Perth, the hosts have come under fire heading into the second Test starting Saturday.

Du Plessis said he expected a response from Australia, but is eager for his side to focus on its own execution. "They'll be hurting from the previous Test match and they'll want to try and turn that around," he told a news conference on Friday.

"For us, it's just normal business making sure that we can do our things as basic and as well as we can." Both teams will be forced into changes, with the tourists missing paceman Dale Steyn (shoulder) for the remainder of the series.

The expected wet weather is also giving both teams plenty to think about, and South Africa may opt against playing spinner Keshav Maharaj. Du Plessis said Maharaj could miss out, meaning Morne Morkel and Kyle Abbott come into the XI.

"If it becomes a really shortened game where it is going to be under covers and the ball's going to be wet, it's going to be cold and the pitch has more moisture ... that's something we will look at," he said.

"It looks like there's going to be a little bit of rain tomorrow so, if it rains for the whole day, it becomes a four-day game."