Graeme Smith concedes his team, whose seven-wicket defeat at Centurion last weekend was their sixth successive one-day international failure against the same opponents, have not been reaching their potential of late.

But he is confident that is about to change, as it needs to if South Africa are to avoid going 2-0 down at Newlands with only two to play and therefore kiss goodbye to any prospects of winning the series.

"There has been a lot of honesty around the group this last week, and that's good," said Smith.

"I think everyone naturally thinks the hard words come from myself, or (coach) Mickey (Arthur) or Snapey [Jeremy Snape].

"But I think the players themselves have been honest that they haven't played to their standards."

The consequence, according to Smith, is a team ready to do themselves justice.

"I've been really impressed with what I've seen.

"It's really proved to me that the guys are hungry to do well for South Africa.

"We haven't played to our potential of late.

"We all know we haven't been up to the standards we're proud of as a team - and we want to reach them tomorrow."

Smith acknowledges, however, that there has been no fluke about England's run of success.

"England are proving to be a formidable force, and we're going to have to be at the top of our game," he predicted.

"But I don't think anything fancy needs to be done. It's just about being precise."

Smith disputes the theory that the tourists have taken his team by surprise - and points out all is far from lost yet.

"We knew it was going to be a tough series," he claims.

"We knew England have some quality players and we would have to play well.

"We haven't started the series as we would like. But we've only lost one game - and we can turn it all around this weekend."

South Africa may make just one change from the line-up that lost at Centurion, fast bowler Wayne Parnell fit again after an ankle niggle and in contention to replace Charl Langeveldt.