Plenty of starts, no half-centuries: the Proteas were bowled out for 284 on Sunday, and Australia reached 33 without loss, 139 ahead, before bad light ended play early again.
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Australia start day four 139 ahead with the Durban light as the wild card, the Premiership is back on Tuesday night, and Steve Smith now owns a catching record.
Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen and Anrich Nortje took two wickets apiece as Australia slid to 124/6, before Matt Renshaw and Pat Cummins dug in and bad light closed a shortened first day.
Rabada sits out as Nortje returns and both spinners play at Kingsmead, Saturday stacks three big kick-offs, and Pirates go for a fifth MTN8 title in a row.
The Proteas weigh up Maharaj and Harmer together, the Stormers pick 11 Springboks in black, and Sundowns sweat on three players before the MTN8 final.
Thirty years old, uncapped and averaging 82.92 for South Africa A in his last 10 red-ball outings, Marques Ackerman may get his first Test cap on his home ground. Here is why he is the one to watch this series.
The Proteas may pick both Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada’s call could wait until Friday morning and Australia arrive without Cameron Green. Everything you need before the first Test in Durban.
Who the Proteas are in Test cricket: 137 years of history, the Lord’s win over Australia, the squad named for the first Test and the three Tests to come.
The Proteas will wait as long as they can on Kagiso Rabada, Pirates chase a fifth MTN8 in a row, and Durban opens a free beachfront viewing area for the final.
Fifty-eight Test wickets against Australia say Kagiso Rabada is a man Australia would rather not face. With his hamstring call left to the last moment and Lungi Ngidi already out, here is what those numbers miss.