Ricky Ponting can rescue nervous Aussies' run chase in Third Test against South Africa

THE scene is set for Ricky Ponting to rescue a nervous Australia in Perth today and go out in a blaze of glory in his final Test match. 

RICKY Ponting can rescue a nervous Australia today and go out in a blaze of glory after its second string pace attack set up the third Test in Perth again South Africa.

Playing his last Test after announcing his retirement on Thursday, Ponting is due to bat next after Australia lost two late wickets yesterday and sent Nathan Lyon in as night watchman.

Australia will resume this morning on 2/33 in reply to South Africa's modest 225.

Lyon received a standing ovation from many of the 15,961 strong crowd, including Ponting's wife Rianna, in the mistaken belief that the departing great was making his way to the crease.

It was a portent of the reception that awaits him today but Ponting will need a clear head to defy the South Africans on the hard, fast WACA Ground pitch.

He has a golden opportunity to impose himself following a poor series, with Australia needing to win to take the world Test crown from South Africa.

The tourists need only a draw to retain the number one Test ranking but with 12 wickets falling on the first day a result appears inevitable.

Ponting has a more modest record in Perth than any other major venue in the country with just one century in 16 Tests and an average of 41, figures he would dearly love to improve for the sake of the team.

Debut John Hastings claimed it had been an emotional few days for the team.

"Ricky's such a legend. I've been lucky enough to play a few one-dayers with him as well and having him as my captain for a couple of games too.

"It is the end of an era. I don't think we'll really know what we've lost until he's gone. His presence in the change rooms is absolutely phenomenal and his knowledge of the game.

"It (Ponting's retirement) is a massive motivation and the boys will use that over the next four days to try and get the result that we want."

In an emphatic endorsement of Australia's controversial rotation policy, a fresh bunch of pacemen decimated South Africa.

After an uncertain start Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson, Hastings and Shane Watson left South Africa teetering at 6/75 shortly after lunch before Faf de Plessis embarked on his second rescue mission in as many Tests.

Man of the match in Adelaide with a debut hundred that forced the second draw of the series, he batted for more than three hours yesterday to score 78 not out.

It was a good toss for Michael Clarke to lose, although Australia surprisingly opted against playing four fast bowlers, including a spinner, Lyon, in a Perth Test for the first time in three years.

The decision paid dividends with Lyon dismissing the tail to finish with the best figures, 3/41.

The new pace trio replaced James Pattinson, who broken down in Adelaide, and the resting Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus.

The decision to rest the duo was clearly a reaction, maybe even an overreaction, to Pattinson's side strain, but it was a brave move which has paid handsome dividends in such a big game.