Injured captain Graeme Smith might be irreplaceable but his return to South Africa has not had an adverse effect on the Proteas' spirits as they prepare for the limited overs phase of their tour.
That's the view of paceman Morne Morkel, who believes the competition for places in a rebuilding South African one-day side will ensure the mood within the camp remains upbeat ahead of Sunday's KFC Twenty20 clash with Australia at the MCG.
The visitors will be led by all-rounder Johan Botha, who was not part of the Proteas' history-making Test wins in Australia, in Smith's absence for upcoming KFC Twenty20 and the Commonwealth Bank Series against Ricky Ponting's side.
"His presence in the changing room and out on the field you can't really replace that," Morkel said of Smith.
"He's an unbelievable guy to work with as you've seen with all our young guys."
"He knows how to push the right buttons. He's definitely going to be missed."
Like Australia, the Proteas' one-day side is undergoing a transitional period ahead of the 2011 World Cup.
Herschelle Gibbs continues his international career in the one-dayers but gone are senior pacemen Shaun Pollock and Charl Langeveldt, who have both been mainstays in the Proteas one-day set-up.
"They've been really big players for us, one with the new ball and also in the death overs. I think it's just a matter of finding the right mix as bowlers to replace them," Morkel said.
"We've definitely found guys who can do the job but it's a matter of playing it out on the field in those situations."
"It's a good opportunity to test ourselves against the best one-day side in the world to see where we are in terms of that."
Among the next generation of players are names such as Morkel, his brother Albie Morkel, paceman Lonwabo Tsotsobe, teenager Wayne Parnell and Vaughn van Jaarsveld.
Albie Morkel is on the comeback trail from a shoulder injury which has forced him to remould his throwing action, but at his best is a hard-hitting batsman and a handy medium-pacer.
He is looking forward to resuming bowling on Sunday in front of a crowd in excess of 70,000.
"I'm feeling much stronger and much better," he said.
"I haven't bowled in a game yet. I've done a lot of bowling back home and unfortunately the last two domestic games have been washed out."
Tsotsobe and Parnell are likely to get opportunities if Proteas selectors decide on a rotation policy with their bowlers in bid to have Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini and Morne Morkel fresh for the return Test series against Australia in South Africa starting next month.
"It's quite draining, especially after the last Test with back-to-back Test matches," said Morne Morkel.
"I think it's going to be more vital to get in all the recovery and getting ourselves ready to run in for the Twenty20."
"Our skills are more or less there, it's just adapting to our slower balls and working on the death bowling a bit.
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