BRISBANE - Australia's cricket selectors have been given extra time to solve a spinning problem for the series opener against South Africa next week, but they won't hand out a Test cap for the sake of it.

The Adelaide Oval, which hosts the first Test from next Friday, has traditionally been a base for two spinners, leaving a question mark over who could partner Shane Warne.

Stuart MacGill and Colin Miller are the most experienced contenders but cases can be made against both, leaving almost a lottery among Australia's otherwise thin spinning ranks.

National selector Allan Border said publicly that two spinners would be named in a 12 or 13-man squad for Adelaide, leaving the door open for a surprise selection.

But chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said the squad, which was supposed to be named tomorrow, had not yet been discussed.

The selectors will pick the squad on Saturday night after Hohns watches South Africa open its first-class tour during a four-day match against Western Australia at the WACA Ground.

Hohns was adamant selectors would not throw in another spinner for the sake of tradition at the Adelaide Oval, even though MacGill and Miller bowled half of Australia's overs against the West Indies last summer.

"It's an option, and there is no doubt about that, but we have to decide which is the right way to go," Hohns said.

"We have to first decide whether another spinner warrants selection.

"We've got a few young fellows coming through and we've got the tried and true performers so it's something to be discussed."

Spinners across the country haven't been banging down Hohns' door this summer, after struggling for impact on sometimes unco-operative wickets.

Even Australian coach John Buchanan admitted that selectors faced a tough decision.

"You could go around the whole country and, if you look at the statistics this season, there isn't one person who has put up their hand and said 'pick me'," Buchanan said.

"It will be an interesting choice if selectors decide to go that way." Selectors must first settle on the style of any second spinner - MacGill's leg spin, Miller's off spin or a left-arm spinner.

Miller would have an advantage because his offies complement Warne's leg spin but the 38-year-old is struggling for opportunities with Victoria.

His Test career would almost certainly be over if selectors plucked a rookie off-spinner, perhaps even Queenslander Nathan Hauritz, for a glimpse of the Test scene.

The off-spinners would be the frontrunners with South Africa set to play three key left-handed batsmen - Gary Kirsten, Lance Klusener and Jacques Rudolph.

"That makes a difference," Buchanan said.

"Leg spin is one of the spinning options that we need to have. It would be, in a sense, nice for the ball to go the other way but that's a decision for selectors."

That would leave MacGill out of the running, continuing a frustrating season during which his on-field behaviour has been questioned.

Other spinners around the country include Tasmania's Daniel Marsh, NSW off-spinner Anthony Clark, young Victorian leggie Cameron White, South Australians Brad Young and Peter McIntyre and West Australian Brad Hogg.

© 2001 AAP