Basseterre (St Kitts), March 24 (IANS) Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds has been passed fit to suit up for his team's big clash with South Africa at Warner Park here Saturday.

The 32-year-old, right-handed batsman who also bowls bustling medium-pace is now expected to play his first match since undergoing surgery to repair a torn right bicep last month.

He missed the team's the warm up matches in St Vincent and the first two Group A matches here as Australia trashed minnows Scotland and The Netherlands.

"I threw very freely, no pain at all. I am batting well ... bowling is not a problem. I'm almost there. I would say I'm 95 percent (fit). I wouldn't go out there if I didn't think I could play a full 100 overs." Symonds said, according to the Caribbean Media Corp.

"The only thing I haven't done is had a full game, and match-fitness is probably the only thing that is an unknown. The adrenalin of being back out there in this competition will probably be enough to get me through it."

Symonds is expected to take the place of Brad Hodge who can count himself unlucky after he scored a century in the match against the Dutch recently.

Symonds' inclusion will give the Aussies more depth in batting and bowling, with his brilliant fielding also a plus.

South Africa's captain Graeme Smith said he was aware of Symonds' abilities and was eyeing his inclusion with keen interest.

"We are glad that he's going to play," Smith told reporters.

"We have planned that he's going to play. It would be interesting to see who they leave out. It's going to be risky. He's a world-class player. He hasn't played much for a while. He's going into a game (with) a lot of unknowns about him and he's going to be carrying a lot of responsibility so - we will take it as it comes."