South African fast bowler Allan Donald could be about to bring down the curtain on his illustrious Test career.

Donald has hinted that the final match of the series against England, which starts in Centurion on Friday, will be his swansong.

The 33-year-old, who needs just 10 wickets to become the first South African to take 300 Test scalps, said an announcement would be made either during the match or immediately after it.

Birmingham-based Donald has yet to confirm whether he will be available for South Africa's up-coming tour of India.

But with his powers waning and his fitness increasingly suspect, it is thought he would favour standing down after a successful series in which has already taken 22 wickets.

"I've travelled a lot and I really just want to be with my family," Donald told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"I can't envisage myself going away from home very soon. I need to talk to my board and hopefully we can come to some kind of agreement."

The Warwickshire paceman, who was recently named among the top 10 South African players of the 20th century, has said in the past that the 300-mark has always been his career target.

Centurion is certainly a happy hunting ground for Donald. In his last two Tests at the venue he has taken five wickets in both innings.

Should he do the same and claim a 10-wicket haul in the fifth Test, it is almost certain he would retire.

But if he does not, he would face the prospect of travelling to India in a bid to join the 300 club.

Donald insisted he had no plans to hang up his boots altogether and was looking forward to the new challenge for the coming County Championship campaign with Warwickshire.

"This is a fresh season coming up and (new coach) Bob Woolmer will be fresh up there to try to get us out of the Second Division," he added. "So, new goals - it's all an inspiration."

Hamilton stands by

Donald will play in the Centurion showdown after fully recovering from a groin twinge which caused him to leave the field during an over in the second innings of the fourth Test at Newlands.

England, meanwhile, are likely to give all-rounder Gavin Hamilton a chance to impress following his disastrous first Test effort, when he was dismissed for a pair and finished without a wicket or catch to his name.

Hamilton admits he cannot wait to get back into action after being frozen out since Johannesburg.

"I just hope I get another chance," he said. "It's been preying on my mind for the last couple of months and I've been working on my game."