CCTV shows Warner-de Kock incident

Australia gloveman Tim Paine expects enforcer David Warner to continue to get in the face of the Proteas despite being charged by the ICC for his involvement in the Durban stairwell altercation with South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.

QUICK SINGLE Warner, de Kock charged by ICC

Warner had to be physically restrained by his teammates after de Kock allegedly made a derogatory comment about his wife outside the players' dressing rooms at the tea break on day four at Kingsmead.

The vice-captain is now at risk of being suspended for the second Test in Port Elizabeth starting Friday after he was charged with a Level 2 breach of the ICC's code of conduct for bringing the game into disrepute, while de Kock was charged with a Level 1 offence but is not in danger of missing a match.

Proteas legend weighs in on stairway incident

At best, Warner will have three demerit points added to his record which means he would be just one minor indiscretion away from Test suspension, but Paine does not foresee the energetic opener curbing his combative behavior in the field.

"No, I don't think it will change a lot," Paine told reporters in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday.

"A lot of people like to pretend that they like being in the fight and having verbal stoushes on the cricket field, but Davey is genuinely someone who loves that and thrives on it.

"I can't wait to see him prepare for this game, when he gets the bit between the teeth he is one of the best cricketers in the world."

While Paine does not expect Warner to alter his confrontational approach, the gloveman says the Australians would not want to lose the edge the dynamic left-hander provides.

"Yes (we want Warner to act like that), but there's a line that we don't cross and at times we probably went pretty close to it in this Test with some wicket celebrations and what happened with Nathan (Lyon)," Paine said.

QUICK SINGLE Lyon fined for run out send-off

"But Dave is at his best as a cricketer when he is in the face of oppositions.

"He is very good at getting under their skin and it's been clear in the first Test that he has been able to do that."

De Kock's 'personal' sledging out of line: Smith

Some of the criticism Warner has copped on social media is that he can dish out banter but can't take it, but Paine says that is not the case.

"He is not the sort of bloke who will whinge about being sledged," he said. "I've heard blokes say a lot of things on the cricket field that don't bother him.

It needs to stay on the field: Faf

"I have never seen him react like he reacted when we were coming off the field.

"People have said if he gives it he is going to have to take it, all that sort of rubbish, which is fine on the field but when you are bringing people's families or wives into it it's unacceptable."

Australia and South Africa have until Wednesday, local time, to respond to the charges issued to Warner and de Kock, respectively.

Lehmann backs Warner as vice-captain

Only then will the full extent of their punishment be revealed and whether Warner will miss the second Test at St George's Park.

Qantas tour of South Africa

South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada.

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.

Warm-up match: Australia beat South Africa A by five wickets. Report, highlights

First Test Australia won by 118 runs. Scorecard

Second Test St George's Park, Port Elizabeth, March 9-13. Live coverage

Third Test Newlands, Cape Town, March 22-26. Live coverage

Fourth Test Wanderers, Johannesburg, March 30-April 3. Live coverage