AB de Villiers has challenged his teammates to get outside their comfort zone, while Hashim Amla wants them to embrace the pressure as South Africa’s World Cup reconnaissance mission ramps up in Melbourne.

The Proteas face Australia in a one-day international at the MCG on Friday, needing a win to keep the ongoing five-game series alive.

De Villiers concedes it’s impossible to recreate the tension and stress of a World Cup clash.

But the topsy-turvy series against Australia has presented the Proteas with the next best thing.

“It’s a good situation to be in, in the sense that we’ve now got some added pressure on us,” Amla said.

“That’s definitely a good thing in preparation for the World Cup.

“The silver lining is definitely that the added pressure is something that will test us.”

Amla impressed in Canberra on Wednesday, a score of 102 representing his best effort against Australia in a ODI.

De Villiers was also all class, crashing a half-century off 32 deliveries as the visitors suffered a 73-run loss.

Manuka Oval was a significantly different pitch to that on offer in Perth, while the change in time zone and quick turnaround also created issues for the visitors.

The two sides are playing five ODIs in the space of 10 days and De Villiers wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s really ideal preparation for us to be moving around so much, the travelling time as well,” the Proteas skipper said.

“We felt a bit fatigued yesterday after the long trip from Perth.

“To get used to all that and know what to expect in the World Cup is going to be really important.”

Amla agreed.

“Guys have taken a lot of insight from it,” he said.

“They (selectors) are probably having a good look at who is going to be battling for places in the team.”

Legspinner Imran Tahir suffered a knee injury on Wednesday and was unable to bat as the Proteas were restricted to 256 in response to Australia’s 5-329.

“We’ll assess that and make a call on the morning of the game,” de Villiers said of Tahir’s chances of playing at the MCG.