South Africa are almost certain to be without premier fast bowler Dale Steyn when they clash with India in the Champions Trophy opener in Cardiff on Thursday.

Steyn has not recovered from a side strain suffered during a warm-up match against Pakistan on Monday, and skipper AB de Villiers hinted that the strike bowler will be kept out for the first match.

“It’s not looking good,” de Villiers told reporters before the team’s training at the Cardiff Wales stadium.

“It’s sort of touch-and-go. It is obviously something we will have to look at. There are a few games coming up, so we would not like to get him out for the rest of the tournament.”

Steyn’s likely absence spells further trouble for the Proteas, who are already without the veteran duo of Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis, while the captain himself is vulnerable to injury.

Left-handed batsman Smith was ruled out of the tournament with an ankle injury, while seasoned all-rounder Jacques Kallis opted out to take a voluntary break from cricket.

De Villiers, who has suffered a spate of injuries over the past year, insisted he was fit to play, but the Proteas have called up reserve wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock as a precautionary measure.

“Quinton is here if something happens in a game,” said de Villiers, who also keeps wickets besides batting at the top of the order.

“If I get injured tomorrow, we are going to need a wicket-keeper. But I am 100 percent. There is absolutely nothing wrong with me.”

The Proteas are looking to win their first major title since their victory in the inaugural ICC knockout tournament in Bangladesh in 1998, an event that later became the Champions Trophy.