DALE Steyn says he has some new tricks up his sleeve as the legendary South Africa fast bowler prepares to make his Glamorgan debut.

The pace ace will feature against Essex in the NatWest Blast T20 at the SSE Swalec Stadium this evening (WED, 6.30pm start) when the Welsh County attempt to back up last week's stunning win against Surrey.

Steyn has arrived in Wales after a frustrating spell in the Indian Premier League in which, after making just two appearances for the Proteas at the T20 World Cup, he played a solitary game for the Gujarat Lions.

However, the 32-year-old insists his time in the IPL has served him well and will help him hit the ground running in the capital.

"Our side was based with the Indians being our bowlers and our overseas players our batters," he said.

"It falls you can only play four overseas in a game and unfortunately I had to sit on the sidelines. It gives you a different perspective because you always learn on and off the field.

"I got my training done and I've got a couple of new tricks in the arsenal, slower balls and so on.

"I am ready to go, bowling fast, the body's good and I just really want to get back on the park and play cricket now.

"I will come over here with a lot of energy and do what I can to help this side be successful, on and off the field. Hopefully we can really do well in the next month."

Steyn's CV shows that Glamorgan are getting a quality bowler to spearhead their T20 challenge before Australia ace Shaun Tait returns to Cardiff for the second half of the tournament.

The South African is 12th in the all-time Test wicket takers list (406 in 82 games) and has played 112 ODIs and 42 international T20 games.

He revealed that his move to Glamorgan came about when teammate Morne Morkel was called up by South Africa for their one-day series in the West Indies.

"Morne was supposed to come here and he got selected to go to the Caribbean and I was rested, but I just wanted to get out and play some cricket," Steyn said.

"He said 'Maybe you should get hold of (Glamorgan captain) Jacques Rudolph because I was going to go to Glamorgan', and within an hour I was on the phone to (chief executive) Hugh Morris, by the next day I was on my way to get a visa and here I am.

"I'm just excited to be here because I haven't played a lot of cricket this year."

Steyn, who will go on to play for Jamaica in the Caribbean Premier League before the summer Test series against New Zealand, joins a buoyant Glamorgan squad.

After a challenging start to the County Championship, Rudolph and his team thrashed Surrey at the Kia Oval to make the perfect start to the T20.

They host Essex and then Hampshire on Friday knowing that a couple of home successes will be just the ticket as they attempt to make the knockout stages for only the fourth time.