A dark cloud hangs over South Africa's preparations for Friday's first Test against Australia with star all-rounder Jacques Kallis struggling desperately to overcome an elbow injury.

Kallis, who is his country's leading runscorer, is suffering from a torn tendon in his left elbow and the Proteas have repeatedly pushed back the deadline for him to be passed fit.

He had been given until Wednesday to prove his fitness in the WACA nets.

But the world's No.1-ranked batsman was unable to pick up a bat at training on Wednesday and has now been given until Friday morning.

The withdrawal of Kallis, who has hit 22 Test centuries, would be a massive blow for the touring side against Test cricket's top-ranked team.

"Obviously it would be nice if he played," said South African opening bowler Shaun Pollock.

"It will be a blow for us but we have to be able to move on if he doesn't play," added the ex-skipper.

Australia had better news on Thursday with leading paceman Glenn McGrath joining in full training after missing Tuesday's session because of flu.

Australia will have McGrath to partner Brett Lee for its new-ball attack, with left-armer Nathan Bracken expected to win the third seamer's role ahead of likely 12th man Stuart Clark.

Australia's consultant bowling coach Bruce Reid, a former Western Australian and Test paceman, inspected the WACA wicket with leg-spinner Shane Warne and said he expected Warne to gain some turn out of the pitch.

The WACA is normally regarded as a fast bowler's paradise with extra pace and carry through to the slips cordon, but Reid says Warne will be a big factor in the match.

Warne needs just two wickets to better Dennis Lillee's 1981 world record of 84 wickets in a calendar year.

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