Careers will be on the line when South Africa take on India in the second Test in Durban, beginning on Tuesday.
South Africa won toss and elected to bat first against India in the second Test but were without the injured Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn.
South Africa coach Mickey Arthur has had to endure a newspaper campaign for him to be sacked after India's upset victory in the opening Test.
Steyn failed a fitness test on his thigh but Kallis was a surprise omission after feeling shooting pain in his spine in the morning.
Home captain Graeme Smith has made only 453 runs in nine Tests and will be under pressure for his place.
Andrew Hall and debutant Morne Morkel replaced them in the line-up for the hosts, who are 1-0 down in the series.
And India openers Virender Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer failed in the opening match, with selectors mulling a change.
India are unchanged from the side that won the opening Test in Johannesburg.
India were underdogs coming into the series, with a perceived weakness against pace bowling, but secured a 123-run win in Johannesburg - their first ever in South Africa.
Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and Zaheer Khan made better use of the conditions and dismissed the hosts for 84 in their first innings.
While India celebrated, Arthur was put in the spotlight as South Africa have now won seven and lost 11 Tests since his appointment in May 2005.
Their three series wins have come against lowly Zimbabwe, West Indies and New Zealand.
Smith's form has dipped since the heights of 2003 when he hit two double centuries against England and 1,198 runs in the calendar year at an average of 63.05.
We know we played badly and we know we have the ability to turn it around Graeme Smith
In the last 12 months, Smith has passed 50 just twice, in the same match against New Zealand at the end of last season.
However, it was fellow opener Herschelle Gibbs who took the most blame for the Johannesburg debacle as he registered a pair.
Gibbs will be moved to bat at six in Durban, with AB de Villiers moved up to open with Smith.
"There's no doubt that we can turn it around," said Smith.
"We know we played badly and we know we have the ability to turn it around."
The home side will make a late decision over the fitness of fast bowler Dale Steyn, who suffered a thigh injury during the first Test.
Morne Morkel is on standby to make his debut, while left-arm spin bowler Paul Harris could take a Test bow if the pitch looks suitable.
Kingsmead is usually a seam-friendly ground, though. In 1996/97 India were blown away for 100 and 66, with Allan Donald claiming match figures of 9-54.
India's opening win came despite opening stands of just 14 and 20, and Jaffer's place came under more pressure when Gautan Gambhir scored 79 in a two-day practice match this week.
The tourists seem likely to strengthen their pace attack, with Munaf Patel, recovered from injury, set to replace VRV Singh, who was not impressive in Johannesburg.
India fast bowler Irfan Pathan will leave South Africa early to ensure he rediscovers his form in time for next year's World Cup, captain Rahul Dravid said on Monday.
Pathan performed indifferently in the three one-day internationals he played against South Africa, and he was not selected for the first test in Johannesburg.
South Africa (from): G Smith (capt), AB de Villiers, H Amla, J Kallis, A Prince, H Gibbs, M Boucher, S Pollock, A Nel, M Ntini, D Steyn, A Hall, J Rudolph, P Harris, M Morkel.
India (from): R Dravid (capt), V Sehwag, W Jaffer, G Gambhir, S Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, S Ganguly, M Dhoni, A Kumble, Z Khan, S Sreesanth, M Patel, VRV Singh, D Karthik, Harbhajan Singh.
