JAIPUR, Nov 12: South Africa captain Graeme Smith is confident an aggressive approach can bring his side rare back-to-back test series wins in India. South Africa , who won 2-0 on their last visit in 2000 to inflict the first home Test series defeat on India in over 13 years, arrived on Friday with the country celebrating Diwali.

"We'll take an aggressive and a positive approach," Smith told reporters in the northern city of Jaipur, where the South Africans begin their tour on Sunday with a three-day match against a Board President's XI.

"We've come here to win, we have a game plan," he said. Smith leads an inexperienced squad in which he is one of 10 players who have never played in India before. "We'll try to acclimatise ourselves to the conditions as quickly as possible," he said. "We're ready for any kind of challenge."

South Africa have been going through a lean patch, winning Test series only against Bangladesh and West Indies and Smith said recently his team had hit rock bottom. But the 23-year-old, who will rely heavily on experienced campaigners such as former captain Shaun Pollock and all-rounder Jacques Kallis, believed the team can turn things around.

"Pollock is playing a dual role," Smith said. "He's been to India a few times and he's giving vital tips to the youngsters." India have also been struggling, losing three one-day tournaments in a row and going down 2-1 to Australia in a Test series.

"For a young team, no place can be better than India to learn," South Africa coach Ray Jennings said. "We're going to go with that attitude and home we can repeat our 2000 performance." The first Test starts in Kanpur on Nov 20 and the second will be played in Kolkata's Eden Gardens from Nov 28. - Reuters