SOUTH African captain Graeme Smith rates his side's breakthrough Test series victory in Australia as his country's finest cricket moment.

The Proteas' victory in the second Test at the MCG, secured with another near-faultless run pursuit, gave the tourists an unassailable 2-0 series lead.

It capped a remarkable year in which they won 11 of 15 Tests played, won a series in England, drew in India and achieved what no other side had done in Australia since Richie Richardson's West Indies won here in 1992-93.

Smith rated this feat South Africa's greatest achievement in the 110 years since they played their maiden Test, which included 23 years of apartheid-enforced isolation.

"It's got to be the best," he said.

"No disrespect to anything that's gone before us, we're very respectful of the history of our game and all of the people who've had opportunities before us and who never had opportunities.

"But for us, it's got to be the most incredible season South Africa has ever had given the results tat we've got. I don't think anyone would argue with that."

Smith's side has won nine and drawn one of the 10 series it has played in two years, and could yet take the official world No.1 ranking by winning the third Test at the SCG, starting Saturday.

Smith said the balance of power had moved slightly, but Australia would remain a great side and hard to beat.

He said the Proteas' aim now had to be maintaining the standards they had set since 2006 and building an era of success, like Australia did after de-throning the West Indies in 1995.

"That's something you've got to give Australia credit for, to perform at that level for a decade or so was incredible," he said.

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"They had some champion players and they did it.

"For us it's going to be an ongoing challenge to keep achieving these standards we've set ourselves."

South Africa's victories in Perth and Melbourne were based on staying composed under pressure, highlighted by the match-turning stand of 180 between Jean-Paul Duminy and Dale Steyn on day three at the MCG.

Their run-chase was so assured that Smith (75), Neil McKenzie (59 not out) and Hashim Amla (30 not out) were barely troubled on Tuesday, just as Duminy and AB de Villiers kept ice cool at the WACA Ground.

Steyn, man of the match at the MCG for his haul of 10-154 and 76, said the victory could launch one of cricket's new eras of dominance.

"If we can start off winning like this, fresh in our careers, and we can continue, then maybe we can start a new generation," he said.

"I'm really proud to be part of a side that's achieved something special."

The victory was also cherished by older sections of the team, such as allrounder Jacques Kallis, who had shared the angst of three previously unsuccessful series in this country.

"At the MCG, what better place to want to do it," he told the Nine Network.

"I've had some individual highlights here, but lost Test matches and drawn Test matches, so this one takes the cake."

Smith expected to play in Sydney despite being troubled by his elbow injury, and said vice-captain Ashwell Prince was "progressing well" from his broken thumb.

Prince's return would highlight South Africa's batting riches, as Duminy - with 221 runs for the series - maintains he would make way for his fellow left-hander.