The South African cricket side is concerned captain Graeme Smith's elbow injury may keep him out of next week's Sydney Test and has flown out the uncapped Vaughn Van Jaarsveld on standby.
Smith, who made 48 and 101 in his side's six-wicket win in the first Test in Perth last week, has lined up for the second Test in Melbourne but only after having further treatment on his elbow.
Twenty three year old Van Jaarsveld was originally scheduled to land with the one-day squad in the second week of January.
The third and final Test starts in Sydney on January 3.
Australia will also host the Proteas for two Twenty20 internationals on January 11 at the MCG and two days later at the Gabba.
A five-match one-day series kicks off on January 16 at the MCG.
