SOUTH Africa superstar Dale Steyn will be aiming to fire Hampshire to a Royal London One-Day Cup semi-final at The Ageas Bowl tomorrow.

The Proteas legend has trained for the last two days with his new teammates in readiness for their final south group match, a crucial day-nighter against Somerset (2pm start).

Steyn has not played since suffering a heel injury while playing for South Africa against India five months ago.

But he has been fit since April and can tomorrow book Hampshire a home semi-final on June 17 or 18.

Director of cricket Giles White said: “Dale is part of the squad and will definitely play.

“To have a world-class player with us has been exciting for the whole group, especially the eight academy-produced players, who will learn a lot from him.”

When Steyn last played at The Ageas Bowl, he finished on the losing side in a 50-over semi-final - for Warwickshire against Hampshire in 2007.

Last year he was restricted to just six domestic T20 games with a shoulder injury, but White has been pleased with what he has seen in training from Steyn, the world’s number one fast bowler from 2008-14, in the last 48 hours.

He said: “Dale’s looked good, he’s bowled within himself but has swung the white ball, which not many do, and looks as motivated as ever.

“He’s been ready to play since April after raunning out of time to get himself fit for South Africa’s last two Tests against Australia [in March], but has just had no cricket to play.”

Hampshire know full well what to expect from Steyn, having been on the receiving end of his skills in the T20 Blast two years ago.

Steyn took the first three of his 11 wickets for Glamorgan against Hampshire in June 2016, finishing with 3-22 after blasting out Gareth Berg, Gareth Andrew and Tino Best in a five-wicket win for his side in Cardiff.

Prior to that, Steyn had two county spells, for Essex in 2005 before joining Warwickshire two years later.

Hampshire will be confident of an improvement on his County Championship record of 37 wickets at 38.7 from 13 matches, six of which were in division two, when he replaces Hashim Amla as overseas player in the longer form this month, starting against Surrey at The Ageas Bowl on Saturday.

White added: “Hashim was always going to go back when he did, for a Cricket South Africa fitness testing session and an awards night.

“Originally he was going to come back for the last two championship games in June [at home to Yorkshire and away to Lancashire] but he now has a knee issue so Dale will take his spot.

“He’s another wonderful cricketer with a quite exceptional record, so it will be good to get him on the park. Hopefully he has a real impact and we get him back firing for South Africa’s series in Sri Lanka next month.”

If Hampshire lose tomorrow night and Kent beat Essex at Chelmsford, they will have to settle for a place in one of the two quarter-finals.

But they are also boosted by Liam Dawson’s return after a four-week absence with a finger injury.

Hampshire (from): Alsop, Rossouw, Vince, Weatherley, Adams, Dawson, McManus, Berg, Steyn, Crane, Topley, Taylor, Wood Ervine, Wheal.