South African captain Faf du Plessis is in danger of missing the third Test after the International Cricket Council charged him with ball tampering on Friday.

The ICC believes du Plessis has a case to answer after reviewing television footage of him applying saliva to the ball when he had a lolly in his mouth during the second Test against Australia in Hobart.

It's the second time in three years du Plessis has landed in hot water for his management of the ball. He was fined by the ICC in 2013 for rubbing the ball on a trouser zipper during a Test against Pakistan, despite the match referee being satisfied it was "not part of a deliberate and/or prolonged attempt to unfairly manipulate the condition of the ball".

Du Plessis has pleaded not guilty and will face ICC match referee Andy Pycroft to see if he will play in the day/night Test next week in Adelaide.