Temba Bavuma and Mitchell Marsh may be the ones walking out to spin the coin at the Wanderers on Pink Day Sunday, but all eyes will be on Aiden Markram and Pat Cummins at the Bullring.
Both will be making their respective returns to their international teams after an elongated break from the game.
Markram has not played any cricket since returning from The Hundred in early August, due to personal reasons. The Proteas T20 captain skipped the Proteas' Tour to Namibia and was the only fit, nationally contracted player not to feature in at least one round of the domestic First-Class Series.
He also missed the series opener against Australia at Kingsmead last Thursday. In fact, Markram's last appearance in the green and gold stretches back to the T20 World Cup semi-final defeat to New Zealand in early March.
"It was nice having a little bit of time off," Markram said ahead of the second ODI.
"Under the circumstances, probably not ideal, but it's great to be back, and great that things are looking a lot better at home as well.
"It felt good (to return to the Proteas environment), nice to catch up with everyone. Naturally, we've all spent a lot of time together over the years, so it's been pretty relaxed.
Cummins' absence has been a different story entirely — not personal circumstance, but rather a calculated decision from the Australian team management. Having missed the preceding Tour to Zimbabwe and subsequently arrived late in South Africa, the regular Australian skipper's game time is being managed alongside fellow fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, with the upcoming Test series against the Proteas and the larger World Test Championship (WTC) picture taking clear priority over white-ball commitments.
The clash at the Bullring is expected to be Cummins' first ODI since facing Pakistan at Adelaide Oval in November 2024 — almost two years ago.
Although both will be a bit ring-rusty, with Markram having attempted to shake off the cobwebs over the last couple of weeks through some net sessions with his domestic union, the Titans, and at his former university, Tuks, the adrenaline will certainly start pumping through both players' veins when they confront each other out in the middle.
The pair have enjoyed epic battles over the years, not least last year's WTC final at Lord's, when Cummins claimed six wickets to bundle the Proteas out for just 138 in their first innings, before Markram struck back with a superb second-innings century to drive his team to their first major ICC silverware in 28 years.
Having also played together for a couple of seasons at the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad, there is certainly an element of mutual respect when these two go into battle.
"Well, one thing is he never goes away," Markram said.
"He keeps running in. Sometimes you feel with bowlers, once you spend a bit of time and decrease the second, third, fourth spell, especially now in Test cricket, it feels a bit different."
"I think with Pat, it always feels the same. It's one of his greatest strengths, I feel. Then, obviously, the skills behind that — I call it character as well. So, a lot of energy on the ball, bashes away on a good spot on the wicket. And if there's anything there, he'll certainly find it."
It is still unclear where Markram will fit into the Proteas' batting line-up, although coach Shukri Conrad has constantly referred to him as "the country's best opener — all formats."
He will be hoping to get the Proteas off to a solid start as the home team looks to script another famous chapter in the history of the Pink ODI, while trying to close out a sixth successive ODI series victory over the arch-rivals from Down Under, who will be without injured wicketkeeper Josh Inglis at both the Wanderers and Potchefstroom next week.