South Africa have vowed to do better at wearing Australia's bowlers down in the second Test, desperate to rebound after the batters' meek surrender in Durban.

The Proteas are set to welcome back pace ace Kagiso Rabada for Sunday's second Test in Gqeberha, after he terrorised Australia on the last tour in 2018.

But the hosts have pointed to their batting as the biggest bridge that must be mended between the two sides after the series-opening 214-run defeat.

Aiden Markram was the only Protea to pass 50 in the Test, with seven others scoring between 30 and 49 across both innings.

That prompted coach Shukri Conrad to claim he was "pulling the very last strands out of his hair" as he axed both Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreynne.

South Africa No.3 David Bedingham spoke of the relentless nature of Australia's attack on Friday, with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon offering little reprieve.

But with the three Tests in this series essentially being played back-to-back, he stressed the importance of putting work into the Australian bowlers.

"It's just about trying to take them to 80 overs, 100 overs, 120 overs," Bedingham said. 

"And then, I know they're machines, but everyone gets tired eventually. Well, hopefully...

"When Kesh (Maharaj) and Simon (Harmer) were batting around the 68th over in the first innings, I'm not saying they were tiring, but the ball was a lot softer. 

"It looked a lot easier. So if we could have maybe been four, five down there, then maybe the game would have a different angle."

Meanwhile, Rabada looks almost certain to play, as the Proteas fight to avoid their first home series defeat since England toured in 2019-20.

Rabada's record of 58 wickets at 21.39 is the second best of any quick against Australia this century, behind only Jasprit Bumrah.

He was the Proteas' arch-villain in the 2018 series, colliding with Steve Smith after taking his wicket in Gbqerha (then Port Elizabeth) and only avoiding a ban on appeal.

Rabada has steamed in at South Africa training this week, showing no signs of the hamstring tear that sidelined him for through the ODIs and first Test.

"He's massive for us," Bedingham said.

"It looks like he's quick again, he's sharp. 

"Even if you look back last year in the World Test Championship final, he took nine wickets against Australia.

"Against any team he plays against, he's ready. Hopefully come this next Test he takes nine or 10 wickets, that would be quite nice."

Batters Marques Ackerman and Matthew Breetzke are expected to come in at St George's Park, with Ryan Rickelton to take gloves from Verreynne.