Dean Elgar believes the pace and bounce at Centurion will hassle Pakistan as the players make their final preparations for the first Test on Boxing Day.

The Proteas take on Pakistan in the Boxing Day Test at Centurion in their first series against the visitors in four years, and their first tour South Africa in five years.

The last time the subcontinent side played in South Africa was in 2013 when they lost 3-0, with the final Test in that series taking place at SuperSport Park.

That Test between the two sides in Centurion was dominated by seamers, with Kyle Abbott picking up nine wickets in the match and Dale Steyn picking up five, while Pakistan seamer Rahat Ali took a six-for.

Elgar believes that the seamers will be in luck once again this time around.

‘It’s an exciting time of year, and we have a good record of late at Centurion. The Boxing Day Test is something you watch as a kid, so to have it on your home ground, in familiar conditions, is really special,’ said Elgar on the Titans’ Facebook page.

‘A lot of subcontinent teams don’t like playing here because of pace and bounce, so that is something we can exploit. We have a good record here, and we love playing here.’

Injuries to key bowlers will see the Proteas make a few changes for the first Test.

Titans bowler Lungi Ngidi is out of the Test series, while seamer Vernon Philander is only expected to be fit for the second Test in Cape Town.

‘It is disappointing not to have Vern and Lungi, but it is a massive opportunity for the other guys,’ said Elgar.

‘Duanne Olivier has done very well in the Mzansi Super League, and teams don’t like the extra pace he has.’

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images