Cricket and Christmas dinner on menu today for Test sides

MELBOURNE - Australia and South Africa will have their final hit-outs today for the Boxing Day Test with both sides anxious to take the field at the new-look MCG stadium.

A crowd of 70,000 is expected for the opening day tomorrow.

"It's quite amazing being out in the middle there," Australia's top paceman Glenn McGrath said.

"I can only imagine what it will be like with a capacity crowd. Last year when they still hadn't finished the stand it was a bit of a strange feeling bowling at the MCG.

"Now with the stand completed it will be something pretty awesome. "

Australia has scheduled an optional training session at the MCG this morning followed by a Christmas lunch with players' families attending at the Crown Palladium Ballroom.

The South Africans will have a full-scale training session with all-rounder Justin Kemp struggling to overcome a shoulder injury and leading batsman Jacques Kallis still in some doubt with an elbow injury.

However captain Graeme Smith says he expects Kallis to play after missing the Perth Test with the injury.

"The team is very mature at the moment, very calm and just looking forward to getting started," Smith said.

"The MCG is an awesome occasion for any touring team.

"I don't think we can be better prepared going into the Boxing Day Test match than we are at the moment. "

Players' families will attend a team Christmas lunch.

The first Test in Perth was a draw. Sydney will host the final Test in the three-match series on January 2-6.

SQUADS

* Teams for the second test between Australia and South Africa starting at the MCG tomorrow:

Australia (from) - Matthew Hayden, Phil Jaques, Ricky Ponting (captain), Brad Hodge, Mike Hussey, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Glenn McGrath, Stuart MacGill.

South Africa (from) - Graeme Smith (captain), AB de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Jacques Rudolph, Ashwell Prince, Justin Kemp, Nicky Boje, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel, Charl Langeveldt.

Umpires: Steve Bucknor (West Indies), Asad Rauf (Pakistan).

- AAP