The Proteas will get a new era under way with a new coach, coaching team and squad.

Recently, the new coach, Shukri Conrad, publicly stated that the time is right for the fiery paceman to make his Test debut, and he cannot think of a better opportunity than now.

Coetzee toured with the Proteas to Australia in December, but he did not get an opportunity to play in the three-Test series. His only outing was during a four-day warm-up match against the Cricket Australia XI at the Allan Border Oval in Brisbane, where he impressed with a  hat-trick.

Coetzee recently impressed for the Joburg Super Kings in the SA20 where he took the third most wickets in the tournament. While he enjoyed the shortest format of the game, the genuine fast bowler said a player wants to be measured in five-day cricket.

"Greatness is measured by Test cricket, and that's how I saw and loved the game growing up," said the product of St Andrews School in Bloemfontein.

"It's the hardest format, so by that stretch, it makes it the most rewarding, so it remains the priority and that's where I want to excel the most.

"T20 cricket is great fun, and it helps with financial benefits, but the cricket purist in me just wants to prioritise Test cricket."

Coetzee added that he knows that he is new to the setup, and while he is keen and eager to represent his country in the longest format of the game, for him it’s even more important to learn from and improve on the lessons he has and will be learning.

"It's different now because that clarity was about me wanting to be a cricketer, but that clarity now is about cricket IQ.

"I've been learning as I go along, and fortunately for me, there have been some experienced people who have been helping and guiding me."

"I'm not going to know everything at 22, but I have the right people around me to guide me towards the cricketer I want to be."

Play at SuperSport Park is set to get under way on Tuesday at 10:00.

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport