The Australian cricketers are staying in the same Johannesburg hotel where Smith,David Warner and Cameron Bancroft arrived in disgrace after the Cape Town ball tampering incident.
The MCG felt very Kiwi even before Trent Boult made a mess of Joe Burns'stumps with the fourth ball of the Boxing Day Test.
Dale Steyn has tipped South African fans will behave when Steve Smith and David Warner take to the field there for the first time since their ball-tampering suspensions ended.
Steve Smith has been fined 25 per cent of his match fee for showing dissent towards the umpires after he was dismissed in NSW's Sheffield Shield game.
Nicholas Pooran has been quick to acknowledge his guilt and accept his punishment over a ball-tampering charge in a one-day international against Afghanistan.
The moment of truth – when Steve Smith becomes eligible to resume a leadership role in the team – lies ahead.
David Warner is optimistic a return to home comforts will trigger the floodgates for the runs to flow as he tries to block out negative thoughts in the midst of a run drought.
Steve Smith has plundered runs on the back of an unconventional homespun technique but it was with the straightest of bats that he fended off to a tricky question.
The ball-tampering scandal left a huge stain on Australian cricket. But everyone deserves another chance,including Steve Smith.
Steve Smith wouldn't rule out resuming his role as Australian Test cricket captain when his ban from leadership roles is lifted in March.
Weeks of carrying the team on his shoulders has taken its toll on Steve Smith,who is now looking forward to a well-deserved break.