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In-form opener Simon Katich predicts the South African pace attack will be the best the Australians have faced since being undone during the 2005 Ashes series.
Katich has placed a big wrap on the Proteas pacemen before their much-anticipated opening Test starts on Wednesday week on what is tipped to be a lightning-fast WACA deck.
He said the tourists’ fast bowling brigade will provide Ricky Ponting’s men with their biggest headaches since England’s reverse swinging speedsters peeled open Australia’s batting lineup three years ago.
“I think the way they have performed, definitely,” Katich said.
“I think historically they have had some very good attacks from when they got back to international cricket.
“Guys like (Allan) Donald and (Fanie) de Villiers and all those guys, they have a history of producing good quick bowlers and this current crop have shown they are going to be a tough proposition.”
Katich was among those who most suffered from the English in 2005 – his below par series leading to his sacking from the Test side later in that year.
The New South Welshman said he had faced reigning ICC cricketer of the year Dale Steyn in county cricket and vouched for his rocketing reputation.
“He is obviously going to be a tough proposition along with the rest of their bowlers,” he said.
“They have a very experienced bowling lineup especially with (Makhaya) Ntini and also the young bloke (Morne) Morkel, so they are a very well balanced team (and) they are going to provide very good opposition.”
It will be the 32-Test player’s first match in the baggy green on his former home ground and he knows exactly what to expect from the deck.
“I think there is definitely going to be some pace in this series and given that Perth is the home of pace, I think the first Test will be interesting,” he said.
There is little doubt he will be emotionally charged for the match, having been booed in his first one-day international in Perth not long after moving to NSW in 2002.
The 33-year-old was even educated in the school next door to the WACA from year four onwards before making his name by piling on runs at the fast bowling mecca.
“If I get selected for Perth it will be my first Test there and I have played a few one-day games there for Australia but never a Test,” he said.
“So it is strange because that is where I grew up playing all my cricket and it is a fantastic place to play.
“The crowd love their cricket and the wicket provides some good entertainment when it is fast and bouncy.”
Katich was guarded in his response to the question of whether Australia should play a specialist spinner in the west with pacemen having done most of the damage in first class cricket this summer.
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