Calcutta: Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock are expected to be fit for the start of South Africa's Test series against Australia from March 1, but doubts remain on whether Temba Bavuma will be ready.

While De Villiers and De Kock are recovering from knee and wrist injuries, respectively, Du Plessis and Bavuma are nursing broken fingers.

Du Plessis will begin training on Wednesday as he seeks to prove his fitness ahead of the four-match home Test series against Australia. Du Plessis missed the majority of the ODI and T20I series against India after picking up a fracture to his right index finger.

"He will start batting tomorrow and we are hopeful he will come through that and be available to captain the team for the first Test against Australia,"?team manager Mohammed Moosajee said in a Cricket South Africa media release on Tuesday.

Bavuma will play in a club game on Sunday following his recovery from a hand fracture and if he shows no ill-effects, will be available for selection for the first Test.

Seamer Dale Steyn, who is two wickets shy of becoming South Africa's most successful bowler in Tests, remains in serious doubt for the first game of the series as he recovers from ligament damage in his foot. "He is doing his running training and also increasing his bowling intensity," Moosajee said. "He will in all likelihood feature in the series against Australia, but the CSA medical team will want him to play some form of cricket before a Test match."