The death stare when he gets a wicket. The intimidating bouncer. The sandshoe crusher that sends foot surgeons into a frenzy.

Steyn has the lot.

Luckily for Michael Clarke, their public feud hasn't escalated to those extremes.

However, there's clearly still tension between the South African firebrand and the injured Australian captain from their infamous run-in in Cape Town during a heated finish to the third Test this year.

Steyn claimed he attempted to speak with Clarke on the field in the one-dayer in Perth last Friday and was given the cold shoulder.

It was a throwaway line in an entertaining and engaging press conference in Canberra ahead of Wednesday's third game of the best-of-five ODI series at Manuka Oval.

Clarke appeared to apologise to Steyn on the field, and also publicly, for something that was said in Cape Town as Australia wrapped up the Test series.

However, Steyn returned fire when South Africa beat Australia in a one-day triangular series in Zimbabwe in August, saying: "I don't take many things personally, but what he did say to me I did take personally."

While Steyn wouldn't repeat the words that caused him so much angst - "I don't think I can really mention it over the air now" - he did his best to play down the matter.

"The issue with Michael Clarke got blown out of the water completely, it was like two schoolgirls the way the media got hold of it," Steyn said.

"That's why I said if I see him we'll have a normal chat between the two of us.

"It's got nothing to do with, 'I'll see you in the car park and we'll beat the crap out of each other'.

"Maybe it's best to flatten it out and wish him well."

That doesn't mean Steyn will tone down his trademark aggressive approach.

In fact, it's probably just the opposite.

"It was great theatre, it was great to watch, it just got heated and a little bit out of hand," Steyn said.

"And things were said that probably shouldn't have been said ... but that's why we go and watch cricket.

"It's great fun, it's great to see, I don't expect anything less in this series.

"It would be a disappointment if Mitch Johnson didn't abuse Faf [du Plessis], it would be disappointing if I didn't abuse somebody, if [David] Warner didn't abuse somebody.

"It's got to be entertaining and that's why we play."

Entertaining, yes. Crossing the line? That's not his go.

"Of all the sides that play Test cricket in the world, the Aussies are known for being in-your-face cricketers, kind of bullying teams and stuff like that," Steyn said.

"I don't play my cricket like that personally.

"I may look like that when I'm on the field, but I'm a fast bowler, it's what you have to do.

"I don't quite agree with some of the things that are done.

"There's a line and I try and stay close to the line and never overstep it, and if I do overstep it, I'll be the first guy to say I'm sorry."

With Clarke nursing his injured hamstring, Steyn will turn his attention to stand-in skipper George Bailey as part of his "cut the head off the body and the rest generally falls away" mantra.

South Africa dropped Bailey five times on his way to making 70 in Friday's first ODI, but it was all-rounder Mitch Marsh who proved to be the road block on Sunday.

"They bat all the way to nine, to 11, in all honesty," Steyn said.

"Every wicket is very important, but getting the captain is a great thing.

"We have to figure out a way of getting him out and being more aggressive towards him."

Adjusting to the flat deck at Manuka Oval after playing two games in bouncy conditions in Perth is also going to be a challenge.

South Africa has a World Cup game against Ireland in Canberra next year, so is using this as a test run.

"I'm looking forward to thinking on my feet tomorrow," Steyn said.

"Speaking with some locals, they say it's pretty flat.

"It's a case of trying to find another way of beating the beast in conditions I've never played before, which is pretty exciting."