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tough competition in the high-profile triangular series, which begins at the Harare Sports Club tomorrow.
The South Africans arrived in Harare yesterday with a strong squad of 14 players and will play their first match against Australia A on Thursday.
The opening match of the series will feature hosts Zimbabwe XI against Australia A tomorrow.
Barnes, who is assisted by former Mountaineers coach Allan Donald, said the South Africans were taking the tour seriously and they will not have any excuses despite having just one week to prepare from the off-season.
The trip has great significance to Barnes as it is his first assignment at the helm of the second string side following his appointment as coach of the High Performance Centre last week.
Barnes, who is a former Proteas’ assistant coach, made his intentions clear upon his team’s arrival at the Harare International Airport yesterday.
“We are obviously coming here to win the triangular and personal performances are important,” said Barnes.
“A lot of these cricketers are knocking back into the national side and that’s basically our goal.
“Of course it’s off-season for us but I’m not making any absolute excuses.
“We had a few days preparing at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria and we got another couple of days before our first game and, surely, although it’s not ideal to play in the middle of the winter there are no real excuses.
“We are coming here to play good cricket,” he added.
The South African side has a good mix of players and will be led by 30-year old batsman Jacques Rudolph who left England side Yorkshire at the end of last season to resurrect his international career with the Proteas.
South Africa were forced to drop two key players Ryan McLaren and wicketkeeper batsman Morne Van Wyk, who acted as back-up for AB de Villiers behind the stumps at the World Cup, because of Twenty20 commitments in England.
They also suffered injury problems to three players but they still brought quality players like Loots Bosman, Heino Kuhn, Vernon Philander, Railee Russouw, Rusty Theron and Roeloef van der Merwe in the squad.
Only four of the 14 players in the squad have not been capped at full international level.
South Africa A will open their account against Australia A on Thursday.
The three teams will engage each other twice before the final on July 8.
Zimbabwe are using the tour to expose players to stronger sides as they prepare their side ahead of the impending return to Test cricket.
The hosts named a 15-member squad last week and will play under new captain Brendan Taylor, who replaced Elton Chigumbura.
Australia A team arrived on Sunday and will be led by Tim Paine.
“It’s a great opportunity for cricketers in the South Africa side. We are playing against quality opposition in the Zimbabwe side. We will have a full Zimbabwe side and a strong Australia A side.
“We had a couple of guys who picked up injuries and one or two playing County cricket in England.
It’s unfortunate they can’t be here but it’s an opportunity for other players,” said Barnes.
Assistant coach Allan Donald, who coached Mountaineers last season, said he was excited to come back to Zimbabwe in a new capacity after another stint in New Zealand.
“It came as surprise to me. A couple of weeks ago I was off to New Zealand and I got a call from Gary Kirsten and I am here today with the A side.
“I’m glad to be back in Zimbabwe and I think it’s a good place to start.
“The significance of coming here is massive in terms of our relationship with Zimbabwe Cricket.
“Actually there’s a possibility of the main team coming over here in October to play three One-Day games but I’m not quite sure if that is going ahead.
“But just being here, I think my first time was in 1993, it was very competitive.
“There appears to be tough competition for us looking at the two teams that the Australians and Zimbabwe have put in the field.
“And, as I have said, our guys are really looking forward to the series,” said Donald.

South Africa A Squad:
Jacques Rudolph (Nashua Titans, capt), Craig Alexander (Highveld Lions), Loots Bosman (Sunfoil Dolphins), Rory Kleinveldt (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Heino Kuhn (Nashua Titans), Ethy Mbhalati (Nashua Titans), David Miller (Sunfoil Dolphins), Justin Ontong (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Vernon Philander (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Rilee Rossouw (Chevrolet Knights), Rusty Theron (Chevrolet Warriors), Roelof van der Merwe (Nashua Titans), Jonathan Vandiar (bizhub Highveld Lions), Vaughn van Jaarsveld (Sunfoil Dolphins).