"I think playing in the sub-continent is as big a challenge as playing Australia because the conditions are so difficult," Smith told reporters.

"The first day of the Test is going to be very important. We will try to put a nail in their feet on the first day and show them we mean business."

The opening Test begins in Lahore on Friday, followed by a second test in Faisalabad starting next week.

Smith said his team were confident after coming back from 2-0 down to win the one-dayers 3-2.

"We know after the one-day series their batters are under pressure...they choked, not us.

"We have to show them we can play spin. We are prepared for that."

South African confidence will have been bolstered by a relatively settled line-up -- most of their squad featured in the drawn series in England earlier in the year -- as well as by Pakistan's recent problems.

The home side are expected to make up to nine changes from the side which beat Bangladesh in Multan in September.

Yousuf Youhana, standing in as captain for the injured Inzamam-ul-Haq (hamstring), returns as do fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami.

Moin Khan, meanwhile, will be back behind the stumps after Rashid Latif opted to skip the series.

Left-handed middle-order batsman Asim Kamal is tipped to make his debut while spinners Shoaib Malik and Danish Kaneria are expected to be picked ahead of Mushtaq Ahmed.

There are doubts over Mushtaq's fitness and coach Javed Miandad confirmed the leg spinner would only be considered if the pitch was spin-friendly.

Pakistan have beaten South Africa just once in nine Tests. Their success against Bangladesh was their first in a completed series on home soil since 1998. Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and England have all won in Pakistan in recent seasons.

South Africa's selection will be restricted to 14 players, with Alan Dawson and wicketkeeper-batsman Morne van Wyk released while Andrew Hall has been suspended for two Tests.

Smith said his senior players who had already played in the sub-continent would have to take on extra responsibility.

"They are aware of this and this is one factor that helped us come back in the one-day series," he said.