South Africa one-day captain AB de Villiers has said that he is looking forward to his first opportunity to lead the side without being wicketkeeper.

De Villiers has been in charge of the one-day team since 2011 and has kept wicket in all his matches as captain.

Quinton de Kock will be behind the stumps when South Africa's one-day series against New Zealand gets underway in Paarl on Saturday.

"I have always felt a bit rushed trying to captain the side and keep wicket," IOL Sports quotes De Villiers as saying.

"I will probably stand at mid-off and be able to communicate with my bowlers a lot better as well as get a better perspective of the game."

De Villers has won nine of his 13 matches as one-day captain.