South Africa firebrand Dale Steyn knows his side’s productive pace attack will need to work harder in Canberra than they did in Perth.

And having been empowered by captain AB de Villiers to attack the stumps and the body early, Steyn is well placed to create monsters in a Manuka Oval wicket that is expected to contain few demons.

Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel were in fine touch at the WACA on Sunday, skittling Australia for 154 in 41.4 overs to level the five-game series.

The trio will confront a more placid pitch in Canberra on Wednesday, when the two sides meet for the third time in six days.

Steyn suggested in the past he had attempted to be both a strike bowler and containment specialist, a hard act in 50-over contests.

But that has changed recently, with the 31-year-old now given the freedom to wreak carnage and strike early.

“AB wants me to go for it now,” Steyn said in his pre-match press conference.

“He’s given me a licence to run in and try to hit the stumps, attack the body a little bit more.

“So I feel like I might go for a couple more runs, which is fine.

“Generally you’re bowling more boundary deliveries, but you might pick up a couple more wickets too.”

It’s one of many tactics the Proteas can tinker with in the ongoing series, as they prepare for next year’s World Cup.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to figure out how we’re going to pick up wickets, because wickets are what slows the game down quickly, and also what wins you games,” Steyn said.

“AB’s realised that and we’re trying to figure out a way to do that.”

Meanwhile, Shane Watson has sent down a total of six overs in the series so far but said he’d be ready to go in Canberra if thrown the ball.

“I know the South Africans are always going to go very hard at me and target me,” Watson said.

“So I’m going to have to be absolutely on my game with how I bowl my variations.”