South Africa have four players battling injuries as they prepare for their tour of New Zealand.

Limited overs skipper AB de Villiers, allrounder Albie Morkel, batsman Colin Ingram and Test spinner Imran Tahir are the troubled quartet, although none of them are thought to be in danger of missing the tour.

De Villiers will cause the Proteas selectors the most concern after he suffered a flare-up of an old wrist problem, for which he has been treated by a specialist.

Proteas team manager Mohammed Moosajee told Business Day that De Villiers will be resting for a few more days, but is expected to begin batting again next week ahead of South Africa's departure for New Zealand next Friday.

Morkel is also suffering from a wrist problem, which he picked up whilst bowling for the Titans in a SuperSport Series match against the Cobras last Thursday.

Morkel was forced to go for X-rays, but returned to take five wickets and score a crucial unbeaten half-century that saw the Titans to a two-wicket win.

"We know Albie hasn't broken any bones, and we are awaiting a report from the franchise physiotherapist to hand to our medical committee," Moosajee said.

Ingram carried his shoulder injury through the three one-day internationals that he played against Sri Lanka, while Tahir has been struggling with his side strain since the New Year's Test at Newlands.

Nevertheless South Africa's convenor of selectors Andrew Hudson is optimistic that his panel will not need to re-convene before the squad flies out.

"We'll give it a bit of time before making any decisions - it's a work in progress," he told the paper.

"We'll have to see whether we will have to replace players, and we have guys earmarked if that is the case. If that happens, we will have to decide whether we replace like with like or go for all-rounders."