The pursuit of reverse swing by Australia's bowlers for the second Test in Hobart could be all in vain according to Bellerive Oval's curator.
South Africa used reverse swing to great effect at the WACA in their crushing 177-run first Test defeat of the Aussies and key paceman Josh Hazlewood has since spoken of the need for the home side to make greater use of the tactic.
But chief curator Marcus Pamplin has dampened hopes ahead of Saturday's match start.
"I don't reckon there will be any reverse swing, it will just be conventional swing and if there's a little bit of cloud around it could swing a little bit," he told reporters on Friday.
With rain forecast for the first three days of play, Pamplin said he's prepared a firm track which will withstand long periods under the covers.
"There will be a little bit of movement after (the removal of) the covers, for sure.
"It's just going to naturally brighten up the grass. It hasn't had a lot of rolling in between that time, it might be a bit of an advantage to the bowling team."
In Perth, man of the match Kagiso Rabada troubled Australia greatly using reverse swing.
In contrast, Hobart will be a stage more suited to seamers.
"If they're seam, there should be a bit of spin early on, but I don't think it's going to break up enough to allow the spinners to get any purchase on this pitch," Pamplin said.
Australian skipper Steve Smith said the pitch looks deceptively greener than it is.
"There's a bit of grass on it at the moment and some grass clippings that make it look a slightly different colour to what it probably is underneath," the captain said.
"The (Bellerive) wicket generally plays a lot better than it looks."
