If things follow the pattern of the past few months, South Africa should win the second MTN one-day international (ODI) against Australia at Supersport Park on Sunday.

Results of the back-to-back tours by the two countries have been like a mirror image. South Africa won the first two Test matches in Australia and lost the third. Australia won the first two Test matches in South Africa and lost the third. Australia beat South Africa in both Twenty20 (T20) matches in their own backyard. South Africa did the same at home.

South Africa won the first ODI in Australia, lost the second, and then won the next three to clinch the series four-one.

Australia thrashed South Africa by a massive 141 runs in the first ODI on Friday night, and Australian captain Ricky Ponting has let it be known he is looking for at least a four-one series win, although he said after the match on Friday he knew South Africa would bounce back.

South African captain Graeme Smith also believed the Proteas would bounce back in the second ODI.

"We're too good a team not to play better," he said after Friday's match. "We were totally outplayed in every department."

Smith will be hoping South Africa's premier all-rounder, Jacques Kallis, will be sufficiently recovered from his groin strain to be able to play on Sunday.

"He helps a lot with the balance of the side, and allows you to play the extra batter," said Smith. "As far as bowling is concerned, you look to 20 overs between him, Albie (Morkel) and JP (Duminy). With him not playing, your balance is difficult to find.

"Hopefully he can come through and play on Sunday. He's got immense experience in the one-day format, so to have him back would be nice. If not, we've just got to play better and put in more clinical performances."

Ponting also thought Kallis's absence was significant and expected him to play on Sunday.

"I think it (the result of the first ODI) just showed how important he is to their overall balance. When they've got (Mark) Boucher batting at six, it leaves them a little bit thin with their batting, so they need that all-rounder there in their top four."

Smith, who last played an ODI against Bangladesh in November, was the only South African to make significant runs, putting on 52 before he became the first of spinner Nathan Hauritz's four victims. He said he was reasonably pleased with his performance on Friday night.

"I felt pretty good," he said.

"I haven't played in about four weeks, and to come out and hit the ball like I did was nice. I would have loved to have pushed on to about 80 or 100. It was nice to get a good start and feel the ball in the middle of the bat. Hopefully, on Sunday I can make it count a bit more."