Warner switches gears for Proteas

Just moments after captaining Australia to the T20 tri-series title, David Warner couldn't contain his excitement about the prospect of facing the Proteas in South Africa in the first Test next week.

Just a few hours after that 19-run DLS method win over New Zealand at Auckland's Eden Park, Warner was on a flight via Sydney to South Africa, where he is set to arrive on Thursday afternoon. His Test teammates will be playing in the final session of day one of their three-day tour match against South Africa A in neighbouring Benoni.

Missing the sole warm-up match doesn't concern Warner, who is confident net sessions with the Australia support staff will have him primed to face one of the most fearsome fast bowling attacks in the world in Durban from next Thursday.

"They're a world-class outfit and have got bowlers who bowl 140kph," Warner said on Wednesday.

"They've got Vern (Philander) who hits the money every time and if the conditions are in his favour, he's going to be tough work.

"You know Morne (Morkel) is going to come into your ribs.

"It's exciting, just thinking about it now sends shivers down my spine. I just want to get over there and get into it."

South Africa is a happy hunting ground for the dynamic opener.

On the three-match 2014 tour, Warner was named player of the series for his 543 runs and three centuries in just six innings, finishing the tour with twin hundreds in Cape Town as the tourists pulled off a last-gasp win to clinch the series 2-1 and regain the world No.1 Test team ranking.

After that success four years ago, the 31-year-old knows the Proteas will have new plans in place to curb his prolific run-scoring in conditions – fast, bouncy wickets – tailormade for his attacking approach.

"I've really got to embrace it again and still stay hungry for those runs" Warner said on Wednesday.

"It's a couple of years on. They're going to be smarter and work out where to bowl to me from the series that they did at home (in 2016).

"They're going to challenge me in areas where I've been getting out. I'm prepared for what they bring and I've just got to make sure I'm in the right mental state and I play each ball on its merit."

Qantas tour of South Africa

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

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