Symonds targets Durban return

Australia should field their preferred line-up for the first time on the tour in the fourth ODI on Friday after Andrew Symonds completed a training session at Durban on Wednesday. Symonds will have a fitness test today and was confident of returning after missing the opening three matches.

Ricky Ponting recovered from a stomach problem to play in Sunday's 24-run victory, which cut South Africa's advantage to 2-1, as Symonds battled a hip-flexor problem. "I haven't been given the all-clear but it's progressing nicely," Symonds told AAP. "It's not sort of pulling like it was and it didn't feel like it was going to go again or anything."

Symonds was picked in the squad for the three Test tour starting next week and he said that was a reason for the gentle recovery. "I had to be careful because if I did it again that would have probably been the end of my tour," Symonds said. "So I have been slightly frustrated."