South Africa's tight schedule leaves the touring cricketers little time to re-group after the disaster of the first Test loss to Australia.

The Proteas today flew into Sydney and tomorrow will start a four-day game against a strong New South Wales lineup.

After that match ends on December 23, which is forecast to be interrupted by rain, the team will travel to Melbourne for Christmas before squaring off with Australia in front of a hostile crowd at the MCG on Boxing Day.

With the travelling and play, there's little time for a team on the run to formulate any strategy, work on weaknesses or simply just get over the 246-run loss in Adelaide.

The Australians, in the meantime, will go home to their families for a quiet few days of relaxation. Or in Adam Gilchrist's case, for the scheduled arrival of a new baby.

Even Australia skipper Steve Waugh feels sorry for the South Africans.

"It's a very compact schedule," Waugh said.

"And it's difficult on tour if you're not playing well or not winning.

"I'm not saying they're not playing well but it's a tough schedule and you have to work out who needs to play and who needs rest and sometimes guys are playing when they need to rest and they're probably looking for more practice as well."

For the NSW match, South Africa will rotate in the four players who sat out the Test.

The most crucial workout will be Allan Donald's.

The 35-year-old fast bowler will surely be included in the second Test team, possibly at the expense of spinner Claude Henderson, allowing South Africa to play an all-out pace attack on a pitch which will be more suitable to their style.

Skipper Shaun Pollock was non-committal on Donald's role in Melbourne.

The veteran pace man missed selection in Adelaide because it was deemed he hadn't done enough bowling after a six-month hiatus due to illness and injury.

Donald didn't help his cause when he damaged his feet by wearing new boots in the tour opener against Western Australia, losing a lot of bowling time.

"He's been continually monitored," Pollock said.

"We'll have to take the results and performances he puts in (against NSW) as a gauge for the second Test."

The other person pushing for selection in Melbourne is top order batsman Jacques Rudolph, who will get another to press for a Test spot after Boeta Dippenaar made a hash of his reprieve in Adelaide.

Justin Ontong, a young spinner and batsman of some skill, will most likely get a run here as he may be yet be a surprise selection for the third Test at the SCG.

Steve Elworthy will also play against NSW, replacing one of the pace bowlers.

Pollock, who dubbed the NSW game a "practice match", said his side wouldn't take too much baggage from the loss in Adelaide.

"In international cricket you have to learn to put these sort of things behind you," he said.

"We've been outplayed by the better side on the day but we still believe that we didn't play to our full potential.

"If we can improve on that aspect we believe we've got a side good enough to beat Australia on our day."

Tapping that potential over the next week will be the hardest task for the young captain.

Teams:

South Africa (possible 12): Shaun Pollock (capt), Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Rudolph, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Justin Ontong, Makhaya Ntini, Allan Donald, Steve Elworthy.

NSW: Michael Bevan (capt), Michael Slater, Greg Mail, Michael Clarke, Brett Van Deinsen, Mark Higgs, Brad Haddin, Stuart MacGill, Anthony Clark, Shawn Bradstreet, Nathan Bracken, Don Nash.

© 2001 AAP