Fast bowling pair Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander will reunite as South Africa seek to start the long climb back up the rankings in the first Test against New Zealand in Durban on Friday.

When Steyn and Philander last shared the new ball, in the first Test against India in Mohali last November, South Africa were the top-ranked side. Now they are a lowly seventh, two places behind New Zealand.

At Kingsmead, Steyn and Philander are set to team up for the first time with Kagiso Rabada, South Africa's 21-year-old fast bowling phenomenon, who was named the country's cricketer of the year last month.

It is the first time a Test series has been played in South Africa in August and the pitches in Durban could be slower than normal.