Hoggard took a career-best seven for 61 to spur England to a 77-run win over South Africa in Johannesburg on Monday to give the tourists a 2-1 series lead going into the final Test at Centurion.

"It's the donkey work, really," Hoggard, who took 12 wickets in the match, told a news conference on Tuesday with reference to his role in the team.

"It's about putting the ball in the right areas consistently. Shaun Pollock does it for South Africa and Glenn McGrath does it for Australia.

"We've also got the big lads like (Andrew) Flintoff and (Steve) Harmison to run in and terrify them if you need to."

Hoggard, who has taken 141 Test wickets at 30.90 apiece, said his understanding of his role in Michael Vaughan's side gave him security.

"You don't feel threatened that if you don't get wickets you are going to be left out of the side," he said.

Hoggard played in South Africa for Free State in the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons, and believes that experience was standing him in good stead. The 28-year-old is England's leading wicket-taker in the series with 24 victims.

"It was a massive part of my development to play at Free State. The wickets are flat, and it was fantastic to play with and be coached by a legend like (former South African fast bowler) Allan Donald."

The fifth Test, which starts on Friday, will be Hoggard's last match of the tour because he is not in the one-day squad.

Meanwhile, South Africa have axed fast bowler Dale Steyn for the fifth Test at Centurion.

Steyn missed the third Test in Cape Town with a shoulder strain but was recalled for the Johannesburg match after his replacement Charl Langeveldt injured his left hand.

The 21-year-old made his debut in the first Test in Port Elizabeth but has been dropped from the squad after taking eight wickets at an average of 52 runs in three matches.

Andre Nel has been placed on standby for Langeveldt, who will have a fitness test later on Wednesday.

Nel, who last played a Test in March 2004 and has just made his way back from injury, has taken 36 wickets in 10 appearances.

Middle-order batsman Hashim Amla, dropped for the fourth Test, was also cut from the squad. Amla played in the second and third Tests but only managed a top score of just 25.

A report from Centurion adds, Flintoff will play in the Test after being given an injection to help alleviate a long-term ankle problem.

"Andrew Flintoff had an injection in the ankle following a scan today," an England media release said on Wednesday.

"He will play in the fifth Test, and the injury will be reviewed after the match."

Flintoff almost missed the fourth Test against South Africa with a ribcage muscle tear.