Sydney, Dec 8 : South African pace spearhead Dale Steyn, who is carrying a hamstring strain, will miss Thursday’s opening tour game against Western Australia at Perth’s WACA Ground.

Captain Graeme Smith told reporters on Monday that Steyn, who has taken a world-leading 60 Test wickets in 2008, picked up a minor hamstring injury during the recent Bangladesh tour.

“It’s nothing serious. We are just building him up into the first Test. I don’t think he’ll play the first game. I think we’re looking to probably play him in the two-day game,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Smith, as saying.

South Africans play the Warriors on Thursday followed by a two-day encounter against a Western Australia XI on Friday and Saturday. The first Test against Australia starts at the WACA Ground on December 17.

“The results that we’ve had over the period of time (eight wins from their past nine series), the expectation is probably high like it was for the England tour also,” said Smith about his side, which has risen to No. 2 in the rankings.

“We are all quite relaxed. We have prepared exactly the same way as we have done for tours over the last year or two. People back home are obviously expecting a fair bit as I''m sure the Australian people are expecting from their team.”

Smith has been the leading runscorer in Tests in 2008 with 1363 runs at an average of 71.73 in 13 matches. (ANI)