South Africa’s coach Russell Domingo predicted that the second Test between India and the Proteas here would be ‘tough.’

'It (pitch) looks pretty dry, which is probably not what we were expecting. It's going to be a hard Test match. It's not going to be a short 180 all-out game,' Domingo said here on Wednesday.

The coach hoped that Morne Morkel will be fit for the game and said: 'He seems to be okay. I haven’t chatted to the physiotherapist Brandon Jackson again but just briefly chatting to Morne, he seems to be fine so that’s good news for us.'

With Durban traditionally offering some help for spinners, Domingo is open to fielding a slow bowler though there might be a change in personnel.

'We need to think about the spinner a bit more. We probably need somebody to do more of a holding role for us, so Robbie (Robin Peterson) will come into contention,' the coach said and that could mean Imran Tahir missing the game.

South Africa’s Test here over the years has been wretched but Domingo banked on his fresh stint to quell the demons of the past. 'It’s my first Test in Durban, so I don’t carry any baggage here. I know a lot of the players are really looking forward to this,' he said besides hoping that Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn will perform to their potential.

'That’s what great players do, they step up. I expect them to put in great performances in the next few days,' said Domingo.