Clarke: Injuries a worry

Australia captain Michael Clarke says his side's injury setbacks are far from ideal ahead of their three-Test series against South Africa. Clarke fronted the media at Sydney airport on Wednesday before boarding a plane to South Africa with the majority of his 15-man squad. Paceman Jackson Bird (jarred back) and Shaun Marsh (calf) have not yet been cleared to travel as they battle to overcome injuries suffered on the weekend. Both injuries are reportedly minor and Clarke is confident the pair will be fit to join the touring party in the coming days. Australia will play their only warm-up game in Potchefstroom next week and Clarke wants all players available for selection for that match. "Yeah ideally I would (like them available for that match)," Clarke said. "I'd like them to be on this plane now but that's not realistic but I think you've got to give them every opportunity (to be fit). "They're an important part of our squad, they're two very important players and I'm positive they'll both come up OK." Clarke's men have risen to number three on the ICC Test rankings after their 5-0 Ashes whitewash over England. The skipper said his men were travelling to South Africa full of confidence on the back of their Ashes success. But he insists the tourists are under no illusions as to the challenge that awaits them in the form of the number-one ranked Proteas. "There are a lot of reasons that make this tour an extremely tough one, but in regards to our team we're full of confidence with the form we take out of the Ashes series and we look forward to having a challenge against the number one Test team in the world," he said. However, Clarke is adamant he is not 'haunted' by his side's infamous dismissal for 47 in Cape Town in 2011 and says his men feel comfortable in South African conditions. "The wickets and the countries have a lot of similarities in regards to temperature you're playing in and the pitches you're playing on and the grounds are quite similar in regards to fast outfields," he said. "So that's a real positive for us, a fair few of the guys have experienced some form of cricket over in South Africa which helps. "But we're still playing in their backyard in front of their family and friends on their home grounds."