Senior batsman Ricky Ponting is confident he'll be fit to play the first cricket test starting in Brisbane tomorrow.
Ponting withdrew during last week's Sheffield Shield game for Tasmania with hamstring tightness, but says he's feeling better and will go through some sprint work today to prove his fitness for the Gabba opener with the top-ranked Proteas.
Ponting, who'll turn 38 next month, will play his 166th test tomorrow.
Meanwhile, opener Ed Cowan goes into the first Test under pressure to hold on to his Test spot with top-order batsman Rob Quiney to make his Test debut for injured all-rounder Shane Watson.
Cowan is averaging 29.83 and is feeling the heat at the top of the Australian batting line-up with Watson expected to return at number three once he recovers from a calf muscle injury.
