Proteas claim an edge over Australia

South Africa captain AB de Villiers has lit the fuse for a tense one-day international series against Australia next month, claiming his side currently has "an edge" over their fierce rivals.

Australia re-claimed the world No.1 ranking on Monday after they completed a 3-0 series whitewash over Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

But the Proteas currently hold bragging rights over the Aussies having outplayed them in the recent tri-series in Zimbabwe, including a comprehensive six-wicket win in the final.

South Africa will play five ODIs and three Twenty20s in Australia in November, which will come on the back of a three-match ODI series in New Zealand, starting next week.

De Villiers said good results on their tour of Australia and New Zealand would be a huge fillip for his side ahead of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, to be played in the two countries in February and March.

"The most important thing is to get a bit of confidence over there against two teams I see as a threat in the World Cup," de Villiers said.

"Mentally and physically, it will be a really good way for us to get on top of them before the World Cup starts.

"We can definitely win the series (in Australia). We have got a bit of an edge over them at the moment, but we don't want to go overboard in confidence.

"We played better cricket in Zimbabwe and that's why we beat them.

"We know there's no need to stand back for them."

The heated rivalry between the two sides reached boiling point in March this year during the third Test in Cape Town, which Australia won to claim the series 2-1 and jump to the top of the world Test rankings.

The Proteas have since re-claimed the No.1 Test mace and stormed to victory in the tri-series on the back of three centuries and an innings of 96 from star batsman Faf du Plessis.

And they are unlikely to be overawed by Australian conditions; they have won their past two Test series in Australia, the most recent of which was a 1-0 victory in 2012.

They have also won 30 of the 53 ODIs they have played in Australia, including 16 of 31 against the Aussies, and won their most recent series there 4-1 in 2009.

But given only six members of the 15-man squad - de Villiers, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell and Dale Steyn - have played ODI cricket in Australia, the skipper is aware of the unique experience that awaits his players.

"(Australia) are very hungry, especially against us after we beat them in Zimbabwe," de Villiers said.

"They will want to give us a bit of a pay back.

"That will be a great challenge and so will the home crowds.

"We are a bit inexperienced when it comes to big crowds. They get quite involved so it will be good to be tested against that."

The winner of the five-match series, which includes two games in Perth and one each in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney, will take over the mantle as the world's No.1 team in ODIs.

Australia re-claimed the crown this week and are currently just one point clear of both the Proteas and India.

While happy to have led the side back to the top of the rankings, stand-in skipper Australia George Bailey said the rankings will mean "nothing" once the World Cup gets underway.

"It's lovely to be ranked No.1 in the world, (but) come the World Cup I think it will have zero bearing," Bailey said after Australia's completed their 3-0 win over Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.

"It's a cliché but you don't really look much further ahead than the game that's in front of you.

"You're obviously trying to win every game you play and as a team, whitewashes are what you want."

South Africa's tour of Australia gets underway on November 2 with a warm-up Twenty20 match against a Cricket Australia XI at North Sydney Oval.