Apart from the intrigue-filled Marlon and the Leather Jacket Test against England two seasons ago, South Africa have never lost at Supersport Park in Centurion. The town formerly known as Verwoerdburg - after the South African Prime Minister shot dead in Parliament by a lunatic in 1966 - has hosted six Test matches, of which South Africa have won four. Even the mighty Australians left empty-handed after a comprehensive eight-wicket defeat in 1996-97 (although they had already taken a winning 2-0 lead in the series). India have never played a Test match here though they will be buoyed by memories of an excellent one-day win over South Africa in the recent triangular series. Harbhajan Singh was the hero on that occasion, as India successfully defended a modest target. Jacques Kallis was teased and tormented till he charged down the pitch to be stumped by yards. The rest of the batsmen fared little better, handling Harbhajan's deliveries as though they were unexploded cluster bombs.

In the first two Tests, Javagal Srinath has shouldered the burden manfully. Now it's time for the spinners to do their bit. Anil Kumble has been a disappointment and the South Africans have treated him little better than they would a stock bowler. Harbhajan has been slightly more impressive but he hasn't threatened to run through the line-up either. Either the spinners or Ajit Agarkar/Venkatesh Prasad have to take a giant stride and bowl at the same level as Srinath if India are to bowl South Africa out twice.

Connor Williams, who hasn't driven or edged a ball in anger so far on tour, is set to dip his feet in Test-match waters following the suspension of Virender Sehwag. His absence will be a huge blow for India, though they will hope that Williams can make a similar impression on debut.

The Indian batting has lacked consistency on this tour (so what's new?). When Sachin Tendulkar and Sehwag clicked at Bloemfontein, everyone else failed, and when VVS Laxman stroked his way to a splendid 89 at Port Elizabeth, the others offered the collective resistance of skittles in a bowling alley. India will look to Shiv Sunder Das and Deep Dasgupta for a sound start, so that the likes of Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman are spared the quasi-opener's job.

South Africa don't have many points to ponder. But for the inclement weather at Port Elizabeth, they should have had this series wrapped up by now. And Shaun Pollock will have fond memories of his last Test at Centurion. Against Sri Lanka last year he scored his first Test hundred - and shared an ultimately matchwinning partnership with fellow century-maker Neil McKenzie - and led his team to an all-too-easy innings victory.

Then again Centurion hasn't been very kind to Pollock the bowler - only 10 wickets in five matches. The Indians will view that statistic with great interest. Apart from Pollock, the South African bowlers have been an uninspired bunch. Nantie Hayward has lived up to his reputation of being wayward, Makhaya Ntini has been awful, while Jacques Kallis and Lance Klusener have rarely risen above mediocre.

Boeta Dippenaar's place has been under threat from Jacques Rudolph but two gutsy innings at St George's Park should ensure that he stays in the XI. The kind of form Herschelle Gibbs has been in, the others haven't had to do too much.

India go into this Test with the hullabaloo over ball-tampering and excessive appealing still ringing in their ears. If they do pull off the improbable and square the series, the Indian Board should contemplate sending an early Christmas present to Mike Denness. It may have taken his intervention to inject some spine into a side that had until that moment shown all the backbone of a jellyfish.

Teams (probable)

South Africa 1 Gary Kirsten, 2 Herschelle Gibbs, 3 Jacques Kallis, 4 Neil McKenzie, 5 Boeta Dippenaar, 6 Lance Klusener, 7 Shaun Pollock (capt), 8 Mark Boucher (wk), 9 Nicky Boje, 10 Makhaya Ntini, 11 Nantie Hayward.

India 1 Shiv Sunder Das, 2 Connor Williams, 3 Rahul Dravid, 4 Sachin Tendulkar, 5 Sourav Ganguly (capt), 6 VVS Laxman, 7 Deep Dasgupta (wk), 8 Ajit Agarkar, 9 Anil Kumble, 10 Javagal Srinath, 11 Harbhajan Singh

Dileep Premachandran is assistant editor of Wisden.com India.

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