The pressure on Boeta Dippenaar to fully establish himself at the highest level mounted on Monday when Northerns Titans left-hander Jacques Rudolph was added to the South African squad for the second Castle Lager/MTN Test match against India starting at St George's Park on Friday.

The 21-year-old Rudolph is unlikely to take the field in Port Elizabeth, but his presence in the 12-man squad will be a pointed reminder to Dippenaar that the number five position in the side is by no means settled.

Dippenaar filled the role in Bloemfontein, making 20 before being bowled by Javagal Srinath and since his century against New Zealand at the Wanderers last year he has been unable to cement his place in the side.

Rudolph, meanwhile, has been in sparking form this season, making three hundreds in Northerns' four SuperSport Series matches. He has totalled 501 runs in the competition, averaging 83.50. But he is not a middle-order bat by trade, usually opening the innings for Northerns.

With Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis all in prolific form this summer, the South African top three has become something of a closed shop, but it a little further down the order the situation is rather less settled.

Both Rudolph and Daryll Cullinan were both included in the South African A team which was to have played the Indians in East London last weekend before a soggy outfield and persistent drizzle caused the match to be abandoned.

Cullinan has had only one first-class outing since coming back after knee surgery and this seems not to have been enough to force his way back into the side. With the first class season now in recess, where and how Cullinan might be able to stake a further claim is anyone's guess.

The addition of Rudolph aside, the selectors have stuck with the team that beat India by nine wickets in the first Test. In the circumstances, this is understandable, but Makhaya Ntini might be a shade relieved to find himself still in the reckoning.

He has bowled with little penetration this summer – three wickets for 287 runs in three Tests hardly amounts to a compelling argument for his retention – and he needs to refocus his energies in Port Elizabeth. There is still no place for Rudolph's provincial team-mate Steve Elworthy, but if Ntini continues to be so ineffective, the selectors might be forced to have another look at the 36-year-old.

The South African squad: Shaun Pollock (capt), Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Boeta Dippenaar, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Nicky Boje, Makhaya Ntini, Nantie Hayward, Jacques Rudolph.

© CricInfo