Johannesburg, Feb. 25 (ANI): South African middle-order batsman AB De Villiers has warned the visiting Kangaroos to get prepared to have some smell of leather in the first Test starting Thursday as the Wanderers pitch is supposed to help pace bowlers.

De Villiers said Aussie openers will face some fiery spells from the Proteas fast bowlers if Ricky Ponting wins the toss and decides to bat first.

“I definitely won''t mind seeing Australia bat and having Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini and Morne Morkel running in on the first morning,” Fox Sports quoted De Villiers, as saying.

He also denied making comments on the Aussie team combination saying: “It''s his (Ponting''s) decision, but I''m pretty sure we''ll be playing a spinner Paul Harris.”

De Villiers noted that it was it was very important for the team batting first to get runs on the board as the Wanderers pitch may offer some turn on the fifth day.

Meanwhile, debutant opener Phil Hughes, who is slated to open the batting for the Aussies, has said that he is ready to face the chin music.

Hughes said he is not too concerned about facing the much vaunted Proteas attack. (ANI)