Proteas plan to 'get in faces' of Aussies

South Africa's current generation of cricketers have learned from previous successful Proteas touring sides and Virat Kohli's India that you must be "in the faces" of Australia to succeed in Test cricket here.

That's a mindset adopted by batter Theunis de Bruyn, who is hoping to end a three-year absence from the Test side against Australia at the Gabba from Saturday.

A combative element has existed between the two sides for decades, epitomised by stoic and uncompromising Proteas skippers Graeme Smith and Faf du Plessis, who were at the helm for series wins in Australia in 2008-09, 2012-13 and 2016-17.

After making an aggressive 88 against a Cricket Australia XI, De Bruyn was asked whether this team under Dean Elgar would adopt a similar approach.

"I think you have to," he said.

"Teams have that have been successful here over the last few years are South Africa and India. Virat brought that to the Indian cricket team, playing in opposition's faces.

"It doesn't have to be verbally, but (with) body language and eye contact. It is not always easy in South Africa. We are used to having it tough."

De Bruyn, 30, said the rough and tumble grounding in South Africa for young cricketers prepared them to take on Australia on foreign soil.

"As a youngster back home we get brought up tough with the older ones or fathers or uncles. They hit you with a ball and they chirp you and say, 'That's Aussie'.

"So from a young age you get spiced up for getting into the battle. I wouldn't say it is nice getting hit hard, but it is nice getting the competitive juices flowing. That is what Test cricket is about.

"All we can do is front up to the Aussies, give it our best and play true to our DNA, and be in their faces.

"Playing against Australia in their own conditions is something we as South Africans enjoy ... that underdog tag or whatever you want to call it to really front up and fight."

South Africa's record in their past three series in Australia is one to be proud of

Pace bowler Lungi Ngidi said the wisdom of successful touring Proteas had been handed down.

"We obviously are in communication with guys like that, and over the years when they were still with us they would share that information," he said.

"Those guys are always willing to take a phone call from us. What we want to do at the moment is work with what we have here. We have got guys that have played in Australia and experienced these conditions.

"Our captain (Elgar) has had plenty of tours around the world so he is well aware of what's on offer for us."