Smith returns to face bone-breaker Johnson

South Africa captain Graeme Smith returns to action Friday on the ground, and against the same opponents, where he suffered a broken bone in his right hand the last time he played.

A day short of four weeks after being injured in the second Test against Australia, Smith will lead South Africa in the first one-day international at Kingsmead.

It is a clash of the two top-ranked teams in world one-day cricket. South Africa took top spot away from Australia when the two sides met in Australia in January.

South Africa won that series 4-1, with Johan Botha taking over the captaincy from Smith.

Smith said he was not worried about having to make his return against Mitchell Johnson, whose rising delivery off a lively pitch crushed the base of his right hand, above the little finger, in March.

It was the second time Johnson put Smith out of action. The left-arm fast bowler broke a bone in Smith's left hand during the third Test in Sydney early in January.

"As an opening batsman those are things that you learn to deal with throughout your career," said Smith.

"I have travelled pretty much all around the world and faced all the world's fastest quicks. Mentally it is just a case of preparing the right way."

Smith acknowledged that Johnson provided a tough challenge.

"Mitchell has been bowling really well. He is one of the best fast bowlers in the world at the moment and it will be a real challenge facing him," said the skipper.

"It is something I look forward to. We have had a really good battle over the last period of time. I have had a bit of success and he has had a bit of success, so we will see what happens."

South Africa will be without leading all-rounder Jacques Kallis, who is recovering from a groin injury. Kallis is expected to be fit for the second match in the five-game series at Centurion on Sunday.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting, meanwhile, said his team were determined to bounce back after losing the third Test and two Twenty20 internationals against South Africa, after winning the first two Test matches in South Africa.