Shane Watson remains hampered by calf tightness and will not bowl at the Wanderers on Friday when Australia hopes to start an intra-squad clash under overcast skies.

Watson has been restricted to batting at training this week, and team management will continue their cautious approach to the allrounder during the centre-wicket session in Johannesburg.

But coach Darren Lehmann and team doctor Peter Brukner fully expect the 32-year-old to send down some overs before the first Test starts against South Africa in Centurion on Wednesday.

“He won’t bowl today but will bowl again in the next couple of days, building up to the Test,” Brukner said.

“He’ll play in the game today and will be fine for the Test match.”

Lehmann, speaking on Thursday, dismissed any concerns Watson was nursing a more serious issue.

“He hasn’t bowled in the last couple of days, but he’ll bowl. He’ll be fine,” Lehmann said.

Watson was hampered by a recurring calf injury in 2012-13 and missed the final Test of the summer against Sri Lanka at the SCG.

But he played all 10 matches in the back-to-back Ashes series, overcoming hamstring and groin niggles to take part in the Brisbane and Sydney Tests respectively.

Speaking before the opening Test at the Gabba, Watson said the full-time appointment of Brukner had been a turning point in his injury-marred career.

He was particularly effusive about Brukner’s use of dry needling, a more aggressive form of acupuncture which releases the tension in tight spots.

“There’s no doubt that this certainly has been a new thing for me. Previously with this sort of injury it has nearly put me out for the summer in the past,” he said at the time.

“I’d continue to re-injure it and then it’s a struggle from there.

“It gives me confidence that if something does go slightly wrong, I’ve got more chance to come back.”

Watson was rested from the majority of Australia’s recent one-day series against England, with team management keen to manage his workload before the three-Test bout with the Proteas.