Monty Panesar wants to use his international experience with England to try to turn the Highveld Lions into a winning team.

The slow left-armer is set to make his bow in the South African domestic season tomorrow when he turns out for his new franchise against the Warriors in their first-class SuperSport Series match at East London.

Panesar joined the Johannesburg-based team earlier this month after he dropped down the England pecking order behind Graeme Swann and Adil Rashid and also lost his central contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board last month.

Now he is determined to repay the faith shown in him by the Lions coach Dave Nosworthy, but the 27-year-old knows it will not be easy.

"My biggest challenge will be to adapt to the conditions and the way the Lions play, but I am delighted that Dave put his confidence in me," the Northamptonshire bowler told Afrikaans newspaper Beeld. "I am very excited about the opportunity of testing myself at the Lions.

"Hopefully my international experience can mean something to the younger players."

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The Wanderers team last won the four-day competition 10 years ago and Panesar is hoping to end their wait for silverware, adding: "I'm hoping to take a lot of wickets and want to help make the Lions a winning team."

Panesar, who has 126 Test wickets to his name, took 18 wickets for Northants in the LV County Championship this season at an average of 59.44.

He admits that playing in South Africa for the next few months will be different, but is keen to succeed.

He said: "It's a great opportunity to see how I will fare in the South African conditions as it differs significantly from what I am used to in England.

"I was here in January with the British Universities team to prepare for the tour of the West Indies. I immediately liked it and wanted to come and play here."

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