Temba Bavuma hinted on Saturday that the Proteas could be looking to field two specialist allrounders in the first ODI against Ireland in Dublin.
While that will only be confirmed at the toss at the Village ground on Sunday, it could mean a return to Proteas colours for Andile Phehlukwayo.
The 25-year-old last played for his country in the T20 series against Pakistan in South Africa back in April, and things did not go well for him.
Phehlukwayo bowled just four overs in the four matches he played in that series - he was not used at all in two of them - with stand-in captain Heinrich Klaasen saying at the time that he was suffering from a dip in confidence.
A stint with the South Africa 'A' side against Zimbabwe followed, while Phehlukwayo did not feature in the Proteas' 3-2 T20 series victory in the West Indies.
Now, in a series where the Proteas enter as overwhelming favourites, Phehlukwayo could be given another opportunity to deliver on the promise that has accompanied him since his international debut against the same opposition in Benoni all the way back in 2016.
Since then, Phehlukwayo has quietly gone about notching up 61 ODI caps while he has collected 74 wickets at an average of 31.22 and an economy rate of 5.67 in the format.
Long earmarked as a death bowling specialist, Phehlukwayo has seen his position as the Proteas' premier white ball allrounder come under threat in recent months with Wiaan Mulder and George Linde emerging as more fancied options.
As captain Bavuma said on Saturday, though, Phehlukwayo is far from done.
"I definitely see Andile playing a big part within the Proteas," said Bavuma.
"I think he's an integral member of our squad given that he's one of the few guys with a considerable amount of experience and games behind him.
"A guy like that cannot simply be thrown by the wayside. For me, he still plays a massive role within our team."
Bavuma was not part of the Pakistan series - he missed out with injury - but in addressing Phehlukwayo's mental state, he said that highs and lows were part of the package of international cricket.
"I think confidence is such a volatile thing for all of us as cricketers and sportsmen," he said.
"There are days when you wake up and feel on top of the world and other days when you feel like you don't know which end to hold a bat, so I don't think that is something unique to Andile.
"I think the best thing we can do as players is to support him. For me, being the captain, it's just about speaking to him and trying to get his mind as clear as possible so he can play his best cricket.
"The state that he is in now, I think is good.
"In the conversations that we've had, he seems quite clear and I think he understands what his role is within the team to take us forward."
With 34 T20Is and four Test matches also to his name, Phehlukwayo will earn his 100th Proteas appearance if he is picked on Sunday.
Play starts at 11:45.
Proteas ODI squad
Temba Bavuma (captain, Central Gauteng Lions), Quinton de Kock (Northerns), Bjorn Fortuin (Central Gauteng Lions), Beuran Hendricks (Western Province), Reeza Hendricks (Central Gauteng Lions), Heinrich Klaasen (Northerns), George Linde (Western Province), Keshav Maharaj (KwaZulu-Natal Coastal), Janneman Malan (Boland), Aiden Markram (Northerns), David Miller (KwaZulu-Natal Coastal), Wiaan Mulder (Central Gauteng Lions), Lungi Ngidi (Northerns), Anrich Nortje (Eastern Province), Andile Phehlukwayo (KwaZulu-Natal Coastal), Kagiso Rabada (Central Gauteng Lions), Tabraiz Shamsi (Northerns), Rassie van der Dussen (Central Gauteng Lions), Kyle Verreynne (Western Province), Lizaad Williams (Northerns)
South Africa tour to Ireland schedule:
11 July - 1st ODI Ireland v South Africa, Malahide, Dublin
13 July - 2nd ODI Ireland v South Africa, Malahide, Dublin
16 July - 3rd ODI Ireland v South Africa, Malahide, Dublin
20 July - 1st T20I Ireland v South Africa, Malahide, Dublin
22 July - 2nd T20I Ireland v South Africa, Stormont, Belfast
24 July - 3rd T20I Ireland v South Africa, Stormont, Belfast