'Let's see who can fight the longest'

South Africa speedster Dale Steyn says he doesn’t expect a war or words against Australia this summer, but is preparing for a "hurt" home side to rebound from their five-nil ODI drubbing by the Proteas earlier this month.

The two teams have a history of on-field confrontations in recent times, from Steyn’s spat with former captain Michael Clarke to current South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis labelling the Australians a "pack of dogs" in the field, both of which happened in the pulsating yet spiteful Test series in early 2014.

Almost three years on from that 2014 tour of South Africa, the teams are vastly different - 11 of the 22 players from the gripping final Test in Cape Town won't play in Perth this week - but despite the change in personnel, Steyn is still ready for a heated series and an aggressive Australian unit.

"Absolutely, we’re playing in Australia you know," Steyn said ahead of the first Commonwealth Bank Test at the WACA Ground.

"If that’s the way they want to play I probably expect that.

"But I think they’ll be up for it, they’re probably a little bit hurt after Sri Lanka (where Australia lost three-nil) and especially after coming to South Africa and losing five-nil.

Quick Single: Steyn backs Rabada to fire in Perth

"I wouldn’t expect anything less than for them to come hard at us.

"Not come hard in verbals or anything like that, we’re over that now.

"They guys are now professional enough to know where the line is.

"But I think they’re going to come hard in terms of cricket.

"Their bowlers are going to be up for it, they’re going to be hitting hard lengths, they’re going to be coming past the nose.

"Their batters are going to be in our face, they’re going to be on the front foot, they’re going to try and show their dominance.

"That’s what I’m expecting, and all round I think we’re pretty much a similar side.

"If we go fist-to-fist let’s see who can fight the longest after three Test matches, then you’ll find our winner."

Quick Single: Steyn targets Australia's star batsmen

Australia captain Steve Smith said he had wanted more presence from his players during the three-nil series loss to Sri Lanka, which stripped his side of the ICC Test mace as the world’s No.1 Test side.

While spearhead Mitchell Starc has been seen to fire up in the heat of the battle, his new ball partner Josh Hazlewood is a more reserved character.

And Hazlewood admitted he needed to be more imposing this summer, and the best way to do that is to start the series on a good note.

"I don’t need to angrier but I have to have a presence,” Hazlewood said.

"That is easier to do when you are at home and on top and playing well.

"When you are down in the dumps as we were in Sri Lanka and coming from behind all the time, it is a lot harder to do.

"If we get off to a good start on Thursday we can lead from the front.

South Africa has been a happy hunting ground for Australia in the five-day format having not lost in the Rainbow Nation since the Proteas were re-admitted in 1991, but their recent 50-over form is dismal after they were whitewashed five-nil for the first time in their ODI history this month.

Quick Single: Steyn excited by pace battle

However, that Australian side was without its two premier fast bowlers in Starc and Hazlewood; the pair were set to be rested after a long stint in Sri Lanka before Starc injured his left leg in a gruesome fielding mishap that threatened to derail his summer.

Australia debuted three fast bowlers on the ill-fated tour to South Africa – Joe Mennie, Daniel Worrall and Chris Tremain – exposing them the rigours of international cricket against a powerful Proteas batting line-up.

Hazlewood says it was "tough to watch" at times as Australia failed to secure a win against du Plessis’ men.

"You would love to be on every tour and playing every game but the way the schedule is impossible for the quicks to do that,” Hazlewood said.

"Mitch Starc and myself were sending a few test messages back and forth wondering what was going on.

"Playing South Africa at home is tough in any format. The young bowlers will learn from that."