Paceman Brett Lee will be the only Australian Test player turning out for his state this weekend as his battle-weary team-mates rest ahead of the world championship showdown against South Africa.

Captain Steve Waugh admitted his team lacked intensity in the Third Test against New Zealand and it is hoped that a few days off will allow several key players to overcome injury and put spark back in the side.

Lee is keen to play and will get an early look at the Adelaide Oval ahead of the first Test against the world No.2 South Africa starting Friday week.

But while he turns out for NSW in an ING Cup match against South Australia fellow Blues, Steve and Mark Waugh, and Glenn McGrath will sit it out along with SA quick Jason Gillespie.

West Australian batsmen Justin Langer, Damien Martyn and Adam Gilchrist have passed up the chance of a hit-out against the Proteas' attack in the four-day tour match at the WACA starting Friday.

And Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting will skip Sunday's one-day match between Victoria and Tasmania at Bellerive Oval.

National chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns today said there had been no direction from his panel to rest players and it was left up to the individuals and their states.

"Brett's fit to play and he feels an extra bowl won't hurt him," Hohns said.

"He's (Gillespie) done a lot of work, he may well be in that category (that needs a rest)."

But, despite Australia's failure to capture the rain-affected series against New Zealand, captain Steve Waugh believes the team only needs to lift five per cent to return to its winning ways.

"We could have been better. It's just a small thing - it's only a five per cent thing that we need to lift," Waugh said.

And he predicted that Australia's premier bowlers Warne and McGrath would bounce back against South Africa after misfiring so far this summer.

Warne returned just six wickets at 71.66 while McGrath took five at 65.4 as Australia failed to bowl New Zealand out once in the three Tests.

Waugh said Australia's middle order had failed to perform in the summer's opening Test series pointing the finger at himself, brother Mark and No.6 Damien Martyn.

"They (Warne and McGrath) are human, like the batsmen, and we can't perform in every Test match," the skipper said.

"There's been a few things written saying the guys are off the boil and that.

"But it's hard to play at your peak in every Test match.

"We dominated the first two Tests (but) here we didn't play as well as we could have.

"I'm quite confident they'll do well against South Africa. We just have to make sure we lift for South Africa because if we don't we'll get beaten."

© 2001 AAP