South Africa must be mentally stronger in the third and final test against Sri Lanka, captain Graeme Smith said on the eve of the match.
The home team won the first test in Centurion an entry, then descended to a 208-run defeat in the second match in Durban last week.
"I don't criticize the training nor the effort the players has been remarkable. But mentally we need to be a little stronger, which is the only thing I can put my finger on, "Smith told reporters on Monday.
"We just don't adapt well to conditions in Durban recently and haven't played our best cricket under those conditions.
"It is easier for us when the ball passes through and there is good lead, but when we do not need to adapt, we need change mentally," added Smith.
Sri Lanka failed to win his eight previous tests in South Africa before Durban.
"We had a very hard time here and before the series everybody was saying we're underdogs and can't win to South Africa," said the visiting Captain Tillakaratne Dilshan.
"But if we can play our brand of cricket and stick to basics we believe that we can run on any conditions".
South Africa made two changes to his team, Alviro Petersen replacing batsman Ashwell Prince and seam bowler Vernon Philander entering the unlucky Marchant de Lange.
DOUBT CHANDIMAL
Petersen opens with Smith while Jacques Rudolph drops down to number six.
Philander, who took 24 wickets in his first three tests, returns after a knee injury kept him out in Durban.
Rookie De Lange took seven wickets in the first inning of the second test.
Sri Lanka are sweating on the fitness of wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Chandimal who arrived in test cricket with a bang by hitting two half-centuries in Durban.
He is a doubt after he was hit in the elbow while batting in the nets on Sunday.
"Elbow Chandimal is getting better, but is a contusion in a nasty place. Is a loss for us that he cannot play because he did a great job for us in the last test, "said Dilshan.
Dilhara Fernando also is doubtful with a knee problem and seamer Dhammika Prasad is ready to replace him.
The pressure is on South Africa to put another year annoyingly inconsistent behind them.
"All these ups and downs, has been the story of my career," said Smith. "I have played under this pressure since I was 22 years old and I was probably stupid to assume the captaincy at that age.
"But it is about bouncing back and make things right over the next five days".
South Africa's Graeme Smith team-Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Jacques Rudolph, Mark Boucher, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir.
Equipe provável Sri Lanka - Tharanga Paranavitana, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhammika Prasad, Thisara Perera, Rangana Herath, Chanaka Welegedara.
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