DALE Steyn is the highest ranked one-day bowler in the series between Australia and SA, but he sounds like he would rather be doing something else. Like playing a Test match.

"I want to strike but at the same time I also want to contain, which means you're bowling two different lengths," Steyn said as SA prepare for the third match of the series, which is level at 1-1, in Canberra today.

"If you want to strike you've got to bowl short and attack the body, and then you've got to pitch the ball up; hit the stumps, find the edge of the bat.

"If you want to contain, you bowl back of a length, you don't give a guy room, you tuck him up and you don't give him the freedom to hit you down the ground but also not short enough to pull you."

Cricket's premier fast bowler - he is ranked No1 in Tests and No3 in ODIs - is not in the habit of waiting for things to happen. So he likes what he has been hearing from captain AB de Villiers.

"He wants me to go for it now," Steyn said. "He's given me licence to run in and try to hit the stumps, attack the body a little bit more.

"So I feel like I might go for a couple more runs, which is fine. Generally you're bowling more boundary deliveries but you might pick up a couple more wickets, too."

That's good news for SA ahead of the match that could swing a series that will be over on Sunday. Today's winners will be in pole position.