SA are taking no chances in injury cover for Jacques Kallis, and first-Test squad includes a player whose credentials were questioned.

Ex-Kent all-rounder Ryan McLaren is one of a clutch of possibles required to cover all bases, in case Kallis does not recover sufficiently from his broken rib in time to play against England at Centurion on December 16.

McLaren may therefore be in line for a Test debut, having featured throughout the one-day international series so far.

Yet during South Africa's victory in Cape Town last Friday, former England captain Geoff Boycott made it clear - in his guise as a radio pundit - that he sees no future for McLaren in international cricket.

Then when McLaren made a duck in the defeat against England at Port Elizabeth on Sunday, the BBC had to issue an apology after Boycott swore off mic but was picked up on air as he uttered an especially disparaging remark about McLaren.

But after South Africa's selectors also named specialist batsman Alviro Petersen and fast bowlers Friedel de Wet and Wayne Parnell - another formerly of Kent - as prospective debutants, coach Mickey Arthur endorsed McLaren's talents.

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"Luckily, Geoff doesn't select our team," he smiled.

"We've spent the last month or so having a look at potential all-rounders - the one area we felt we were a little bit light on - and Ryan was the one guy that fitted the bill.

"We need a bowler to be able to really come on and do a holding job - and we think Ryan could do that."

Should Kallis be fit, South Africa can revert to plan A - with an all-time great who balances their team so well.

"You don't replace him every day of the week, with 10,000 Test runs and (approaching) 300 wickets," Arthur spelled out.

"But obviously we've got Jacques' injury, so we've gone for some cover in terms of giving ourselves options.

"Not having him, you would have the dilemma of whether you went five batters and an all-rounder or still with the six batters.

"We're having a look at making sure we've got every option.

"But he's on track; he's making good progress; we're still hoping he'll be fine."

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South Africa are confident pace spearhead Dale Steyn will also be fine, following a minor hamstring strain.

But Arthur today repeated Steyn's readiness for the Test series will not be unduly risked in Friday's final one-day match of a series in which South Africa trail England 2-1.

The players to drop out of the Test reckoning, having featured against Australia in the spring, are opener Imraan Khan - because captain Graeme Smith is fit again - and all-rounder Albie Morkel.

Veteran fast bowler Makhaya Ntini is set to play his 100th Test.

The squad will gather five days before the start of the Test for a pre-series camp at Potchefstroom.

South Africa squad for first Test: GC Smith (captain), HM Amla, MV Boucher, AB de Villiers, F de Wet, JP Duminy, PL Harris, JH Kallis, R McLaren, M Morkel, M Ntini, WD Parnell, AN Petersen, AG Prince, DW Steyn.