Weather and pitch conditions will play a key role at St George’s Park over the coming days. It is a reality both Proteas captain Temba Bavuma and Australian skipper Pat Cummins acknowledged on the eve of the second Test.
For Australia, holding a 1-0 series lead after their 214-run victory in Durban, the prospect of coastal rain and wind turns this match into a test of how well they adapt to shifting game tempos.
Rather than allowing potential weather delays to disrupt their momentum, Cummins’ side views the changing elements in the Eastern Cape as a challenge tailor-made for their experienced unit.
"There's not much you can do about it and it's not really going to change too much tactically what we'll do," Cummins said on Saturday when assessing the forecast.
"Maybe a T20 or one day is different, but I quite like that challenge of playing what's in front of you, all the different tempos and things that present to you throughout the five days. I've always enjoyed that as a bowler and captain."
The Australian skipper noted that historical data at the venue offers few firm clues given the time of year and the prevailing winds sweeping off the coast.
"It's hard to know," Cummins observed when reflecting on previous fixtures at the ground.
"A couple of years apart, and they're February, March, January. So it's hard to know."
With coastal gusts set to feature prominently across the match days, Cummins admitted that paying close attention to the coastal conditions remains part of the pre-match preparation..
"The other big factor here is it looks like it could be some windy days," Cummins added.
"What does that mean for rain as well? Is it going to hang around? Is it going to be long? So I don't know. [I'll] try and pick off the groundsman, see if anyone wants to talk to me, offer me some ideas."
For all of Australia's current momentum, Gqeberha has rarely offered the visitors a smooth passage.
The venue has long tested the Aussies, with the visitors managing just three wins from seven visits.
It was here in PE where South Africa drew level in that infamous 2018 series, sparking a comeback that reshaped the entire contest.