With long-time Test teammates Mark Boucher and Graeme Smith now heading the country's cricket regime, de Villiers' international playing passion has been re-ignited.

A legend of 114 Tests, de Villiers retired after his country's epic 2018 series win over Australia before the Proteas, under the old regime, knocked back his offer to come back for last year's 50-over World Cup.

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis reportedly hinted on Wednesday that de Villiers' T20 return was almost a "done deal".

"I'd love to play," de Villiers told Fox Sports during Brisbane Heat's landslide 10-wicket loss to the Adelaide Strikers.

"I always wanted to play for South Africa, it's obviously a great honour to play international cricket.

"Bouchy, Smithy and some of the guys are back involved and we've been chatting.

"We played quite a few years together at international level.

"I spent the last six-seven weeks with Bouchy in our local tournament, the Mzansi (South African T20 Super League), and we had a few good discussions about the possible way forward.

"I'll have to score some runs, stay fit and hopefully they pick me."

De Villiers didn't rule out a return to one-day internationals but remains permanently retired from Tests.

"Watching some of the Test matches (against England) over December at home I was definitely feeling like it would be nice to be out there but things have changed in my life," he said.

"My situation at the moment is I don't want to play for 11-12 months of the year anymore - it's just too much.

"ODIs I wouldn't take completely out of the equation but Test matches are pretty much done."

Australian Associated Press