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Aussies return to happy hunting ground

Steve Smith's side embracing Proteas re-match after 2016 'low point'

Australia will be out to build on their commanding Test record in South Africa as they seek redemption in the four-match series against the Proteas starting next month.

Since the Proteas' re-admission to international cricket in 1991, Australia have not lost a series in South Africa having tasted success in 13 of the 20 Tests in that period.

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The notable lack of home advantage between the two sides – Australia's 2-0 victory in the summer of 2005-06 was the most recent home victory in this rivalry – is largely attributed to the similar conditions on offer in both countries, according to Australia skipper Steve Smith.

"Coming to South Africa, it's probably the most similar conditions you get to Australia," Smith told reporters in Johannesburg on Saturday.

"This is going to be a good challenge for this group to hopefully keep that record up.

Refreshed Smith ready and raring to face Proteas

"Obviously we were beaten by South Africa at home a year ago and that was a bit of a low point for Australian cricket, so it would be great if we could turn the tide here in South Africa."

Australia enter the much-anticipated series on a high following their dominant 4-0 Magellan Ashes win, but the impact of the embarrassing defeat to the Proteas during the prior summer clearly still lingers for Smith and his squad.

The skipper today pointed to last year's competitive showing on the tour of India as a sign of growth for the Test side as they ramp up their preparation for the first meeting with the Proteas since the series loss Smith describes as a defining moment in his captaincy.

Australia have lost just three out of 15 Tests since the Hobart capitulation that saw the Proteas win by an innings and 80 runsand seal the series with a match to spare, but the prospect of a return bout on South Africa's turf looms as yet another significant challenge for Smith after 31 Tests in charge.

"I think we've made some really good strides in the last year," Smith said.

"Playing in India, I thought we played some pretty good cricket there without winning that series, where we probably had moments we could've won.

"Disappointingly, we weren't able to convert those chances into wins, but I still think we made some good strides there.

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"I think I've come a long way as well (with the captaincy) in regards to messaging to the team and different things with the way I'm leading, as well as the performances I've put on the board in trying to lead from the front.

"Hopefully I can keep that up in this series and help us have some success."

The Australians will today take part in their first training session of the tour ahead of Thursday's three-day warm-up match in Benoni, with the first Test in Durban less than a fortnight away.

Qantas tour of South Africa

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.

Warm-up match v SA Invitational XI, Sahara Park, Benoni, Feb 22-24

First Test Kingsmead, Durban, March 1-5

Second Test St George's Park, Port Elizabeth, March 9-13

Third Test Newlands, Cape Town, March 22-26

Fourth Test Wanderers, Johannesburg, March 30-April 3