Former Test paceman Bruce Reid says he expects left-armer Nathan Bracken to cause the South Africans massive problems by swinging the ball "all over the place" in Friday's first Test in Perth.

Bracken was in stunning form in the nets on Wednesday and Reid says conditions will suit the lanky NSW paceman, who has taken a modest 10 wickets at 42.20 in his four Test appearances.

After missing the second and third Tests against the West Indies in Hobart and Adelaide for leg-spinner Stuart MacGill, Bracken is expected to play on Friday with NSW team-mate Stuart Clark the likely 12th man on the pace-friendly WACA.

"There's no reason why Nathan can't swing the ball here. He's been swinging it in the nets into the breeze, with the wind going the wrong way," Reid said on Wednesday at the WACA.

"If he gets the chance to come down breeze here with the Fremantle Doctor, there's no reason why he shouldn't swing the ball."

Reid, consultant bowling coach for Australia this week, said he was surprised that Bracken did not have a good record at the WACA (11 wickets at 34.64 in four first-class matches compared to 175 at 25.8 overall).

"He should bowl well here. Hopefully with the confidence he's had early in the summer, bowling (in the first Test against the West Indies) in Brisbane and in New Zealand, that he can bring that here," Reid said.

"In the nets today he was swinging the ball all over the place."

But Western Australian Reid also says leg-spinner Shane Warne may find conditions favourable despite the WACA's traditional reputation as a fast bowling track.

Reid said he there did not appear to be a lot of grass on the wicket.

"Warney, just walking out there with him, he thinks it might actually turn, which would be a good thing for him," Reid said.

"The WACA is not known as the best place for leg-spin bowling, so I think he's quite surprised with the way it's looking."

Warne has taken 84 wickets at 21.46 in 13 Tests this year and needs just two more scalps to pass former Australian and Western Australian fast bowling great Dennis Lillee's world record of 85 wickets in a calendar year.

The legspinner will also have the second Test in Melbourne from December 26-30 to break Lillee's record.

Reid, who took 113 wickets at 24.63 in 27 Tests and worked with English county side Hampshire this year, also backed Australian batsman Matthew Hayden's claim that the South African attack would be formidable on the WACA wicket.

"I think Makhaya Ntini and Shaun Pollock will bowl well here. I haven't seen enough of Andre Nel to comment," Reid said.

"Shaun Pollock has lost a bit of pace but he's probably developed into a better bowler - similar to a Dennis Lillee or a Richard Hadlee - with a slighter shorter run and they've gained movement of the ball."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP