South Africa issue fresh Rabada update ahead of Durban Test | ICC World Test Championship | ICC

South Africa look likely to give pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada right up until the start of the first Test against Australia to prove his fitness for the rematch of last year's ICC World Test Championship Final.

Rabada hasn't played at any level since he featured in the IPL for Gujarat Titans at the end of May, with the right-armer battling to be fit for the three-match series with the Aussies after he hurt his hamstring at training in August.

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Last month South Africa coach Shukri Conrad told the ICC that Rabada's recovery had been progressing well and the 31-year-old was seen going through his paces in the nets at training on Wednesday ahead of the first Test in Durban that commences on Friday.

But Proteas teammate Simon Harmer suggested a final decision on Rabada's availability won't be made until right up until the start of the first Test.

"Everybody wants him to play. The spectators, us in the change room, the Australians. I obviously don't know exactly where he's at," Harmer said.

"There'll be a decision made, I'm sure, as close to the game as possible. He's proved season in, season out that he's a world-class player and he's only going to make our team better."

If Rabada is rested for the opening contest in Durban it could pave the way for fellow pacer Anrich Nortje to play his first Test in more than three years, with the right-armer included in the 18-player squad alongside other pace options such as Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch and Gerald Coetzee.

Following the series against Australia at home, South Africa have a two-match series with Bangladesh in November and three more fixtures with England also at home in December as they try and defend the World Test Championship mace they won for the first time against Australia at Lord's last year.

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Harmer said if Rabada was to miss the first clash with the Aussies then there was still plenty of time in the ensuing months for the pacer to make an impact at Test level.

"I really hope that he does get in for the first Test, but there's a lot of cricket this summer and I don't think we want to risk a short-term game for long-term damage," Harmer added.

South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne

Series schedule:

First Test: October 9-13, Durban

Second Test: October 18-22, Gqeberha

Third Test: October 27-31, Cape Town