Why South Africa start as the favourites against Australia

'South Africa have got a real chance of winning the third Test series in Australia. They have won the last two -- 2008 and 2012.'

Former opener Gary Kirsten says South Africa know how to beat Australia in their own backyard in the upcoming three-match Test series Down Under.

The first Test will be played at Perth beginning on Thursday, while the remaining two will be hosted by Hobart and Adelaide respectively.

"My opinion is that it is going to be a fantastic Test series. South Africa have got a real chance of winning the third Test series in Australia. They have won the last two -- 2008 and 2012. I was fortunate to be part of 2012 team as a coach. They (South Africa) know how to win in Australia," Kirsten, who represented the African side in 101 Tests, said in Mumbai on Tuesday.

"Probably, South Arica is one of the few teams who know how to win there. We are going to have two great bowling attacks going against each other and it is really going to come down to which team bats better."

"South Africa have got some confidence in their batting. They both have young batting line-ups and so its going to end up in an interesting series," the former opening batsman added.

The former World Cup winning India coach is keen to see how the Australians respond as they "do not have momentum on their side and lost a few games off late".

South Africa had thrashed the Aussies 5-0 in the recently concluded bilateral ODI series.

The Proteas had clinched the three Test series 2-1 in 2008-09 Down Under, while they had won 1-0 in 2012 when they toured Australia.

Image: South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn

Photograph: Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images