DUBAI (AFP) - Star batsman AB de Villiers expressed confidence today that South Africa can rectify the problems which led to their defeat against Pakistan in the first Test last week.

Speaking ahead of the second Test starting here on Wednesday, he admitted South Africa were disappointed to lose by seven wickets in Abu Dhabi.

"The mood is good, we've moved on from the disappointing performance; obviously, we were hurt quite a bit after the Test, we haven't played cricket like that in a long time and we were very, very disappointed," de Villiers said.

"We're finding ways to fix it and that's the most important thing. We've looked at a few areas where we went wrong and we're going to try and get it right," he added.

"It's a must-win game for us and we're going in there with that attitude to win that game, we're still the number one team in the world and we are going to play like it."

South Africa slumped to 249 and 232 against Pakistan and failed to stop their rivals from putting up a mammoth 442 for a comfortable win.

To add to South Africa's batting problems, first Test centurion Hashim Amla may not be available for the second Test as the reliable batsman returned home for the birth of his second child.

Left-hander Dean Elgar is likely to replace him.