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South Africa captain Graeme Smith has been given the all-clear to face Australia in the second test at the MCG.
Smith, one of the stars of the Proteas' six-wicket win in Perth, has battled pain in his right elbow for some time and regularly has painkilling injections.
But coach Mickey Arthur said yesterday the left-handed opener would definitely play on Boxing Day, although the Proteas had to determine whether Smith needed to undergo corrective surgery in the future.
"He had a jab this morning, it's fine," Arthur said.
"At some point we're going to have to sit down and discuss a plan going forward as to exactly what we do with it.
"But it's not going to keep him out of this test match or the next one.
"There's going to be a point, a breakthrough point, where we're going to have to make some sort of a decision."
While Smith is a starter, fellow batsman Ashwell Prince remains in doubt to play in Melbourne after a thumb injury kept the vice-captain out of the first test.
An x-ray showed he was making good progress, Arthur said.
The players rested yesterday and will resume training today.
- AAP
