Quinton de Kock’s knee injury that ruled him out of the third Test is not as bad as originally believed.

De Kock tripped and twisted his knee while walking his dogs on Wednesday evening, prompting the selectors to turn to Dane Vilas, who caught an early flight from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg on Thursday morning, just hours before he was supposed to play for the Cape Cobras against the Warriors in their Sunfoil Series encounter.

23-year-old De Kock went for scans and the news appeared positive. While there was a mild sprain, it showed no tear to his right knee. The injury will be closely monitored over the next few days, and the Proteas couldn’t confirm his availability for the fourth and final Test at Centurion on January 22.

Vilas, who arrived an hour after play had started at the Wanderers, made 26 in the Proteas’ first innings.