Mark Wood is in pole position to play his first Test in 11 months when England meet South Africa in Port Elizabeth on Thursday.
Wood is likely to beat Chris Woakes to replace James Anderson, but Jofra Archer has been ruled out with an elbow injury.
Archer bowled two short spells at the nets on Wednesday, having a long conversation with the team doctor and physio in between.
The decision not to play him had already been made by then, however, and Wood did not even bowl in the nets on Wednesday.
He was out in the middle with Stuart Broad, the leader of the attack in Anderson’s absence. The hope is that Archer will be fit to play in the fourth Test in Johannesburg in nine days' time.
It is hoped that Wood can find the reverse swing that South Africa captain Faf du Plessis felt would be key at this venue, where the wicket is expected to be slow.
Earlier, captain Joe Root had kept his cards close to his chest on which of the three pacemen would be picked.
“I think we need to use today’s session to find that out and make sure we’re really clear going into a five-day game that they are able to stand up to the challenges that will bring, physically and mentally, having not played for a little while,” he said.
“It is the sensible thing to do to hold off, get more information on the pitch and more information on where they’re at."
Regarding Archer, Root said: “If he is fit and raring to go, you want him in your side.
"You also want to make sure he is 100 per cent ready and can deliver all of his skills, not just seaming it around and swinging but bowling 90mph, too.
"We have to look after him as well as trying to win the series.”
Root said England would pick Dom Bess, the spinner, and Wood’s reverse swing skills appear to make him favourite despite not having played at all since the World Cup Final in July.
“Every now and then, you can’t worry too often about whether he’s going to get through a five-day game,” he said.
“If they’ve proven themselves to be fit, if they’ve jumped through every hoop and worked hard to get back, you have to give them that opportunity. As I say, we’ll look at training today and make a strong call at the end of it.”
South Africa will look to “rev it up” against Jos Buttler after the England wicketkeeper was fined by the ICC for foul language, according to fast bowler Anrich Nortje.
In the final session of last week’s Second Test at Cape Town, Buttler was caught on stump mic calling South Africa’s Vernon Philander a “f***ing k***head”, for which he has now apologised.
Nortje said: “It definitely gets one or two guys going and once we identify a moment we will try and rev it up.”
South Africa are mulling one change for the clash in Port Elizabeth , with right-armer Dane Paterson a candidate to become their fourth 30-year-old debutant of the series.
