Australia's injury woes have failed to improve with key batsmen Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds both sitting out the team's net session ahead of Friday's second one-day international.

NSW opener Phil Jaques is due to arrive in Cape Town later on Wednesday (Thursday morning AEDT) as cover for the skipper (stomach muscle strain) and all-rounder Symonds (hip flexor strain).

Fast bowler Stuart Clark, who missed last Sunday's six-wicket loss at Centurion with a bruised rib, is expected to return for Friday's game.

"At the moment we've got 12 fit players here and Phil arriving making that 13," coach John Buchanan said.

"A selector (Andrew Hilditch) arrives very soon so I guess they'll make some call on that. Phil has been brought over here to strengthen the top order if selected."

The world champions trail South Africa 1-0 in the five-match series and need to pick up a win either on Friday or in Sunday's third game at Port Elizabeth to keep the series alive.

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