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South Africa may decide not to risk premier fast bowler Dale Steyn for the final match of the one-day series against England in Durban on Friday.

The home side need a win to square the series but Steyn has a hamstring injury and missed Sunday’s seven-wicket loss.

An MRI scan showed only a minor grade one tear but he is likely to be rested ahead of the first Test on 16 December.

“For us the priority is the Tests and we’d never compromise Dale’s chances for that,” coach Mickey Arthur said.

The South Africans are already without key all-rounder Jacques Kallis, who has had an injection in his injured rib and is rated only 50-50 to be fit for the opening Test at Centurion.

Arthur brought his players back into the nets a day earlier than originally scheduled after they were bowled out for 119 on Sunday, their lowest ever one-day international total on home soil.

“I didn’t think we could justify two days off after a performance like that,” he said.

“The home truths have been spoken, and now it is a matter of building the team up to try to square the series.

“But we’re certainly not going to panic. We think we’ve got the best players here and we’re confident we can bounce back.”

One man under some scrutiny is the usually prolific JP Duminy who has made 53 runs in the first three games, 41 of those in the opening match.

Both of the left-hander’s most recent dismissals have come from short deliveries but Arthur insisted there was no problem with bouncers.

“Australia tried it as well when they came back to South Africa (earlier this year when South Africa won 3-2 and Duminy averaged 25), and he overcame that and played well.

“I don’t think it’s the short ball that generally troubles him – I think it’s scoring off it.

“He’ll be fine. He just needs one knock – and he’ll be away. He’s genuine quality, we see a huge future with him.”

Both of the left-hander’s most recent dismissals have come from short deliveries but Arthur insisted there was no problem with bouncers.

England (from): AJ Strauss (captain), IJL Trott, KP Pietersen, EJG Morgan, PD Collingwood, MJ Prior (wkt), LJ Wright, TT Bresnan, AU Rashid, SCJ Broad, JM Anderson, GP Swann, SI Mahmood, JC Tredwell.

South Africa (from): GC Smith (captain), HH Gibbs, HM Amla, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, AN Petersen, MV Boucher (wkt), R McLaren, RE van der Merwe, WD Parnell, DW Steyn, CK Langeveldt, JA Morkel, M Morkel.