The 32-year-old fast bowler has been ravaged by his injuries in recent seasons but made a comeback to the national squad in the recent T20I series in India.
Nortje started the fourth edition of the SA20 in fine form, recording figures of 4-13 to help the Sunrisers kick off the tournament with a 137-run win against Paarl Royals.
The matches come thick and fast in the franchise tournament where Nortje could play five league games in ten days plus the playoffs if his team qualifies.
The Proteas will then host West Indies in a three-match series before heading off to the global tournament, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
"You've got to trust your body and you can't worry about this or that," Nortje said after the victory in Paarl. "I don't think it's something I ever don't trust.
"When something's wrong then it's probably too late but, in general, you have to trust your body. You have to trust whatever you have to do in order to get the ball in the right area and you've got to know that the work that you do is the right work.
"When I'm out injured, I'm just motivated to get back better and build on what I can remember. It's probably the best time to build up when you're not injured and you go into an off-season but there's not really a proper off season anymore.
"There's always cricket so you've just got to try and remember as much as you can from last season and then take it into the next one."
The paceman has not had the best of luck when it comes to major tournaments in his career.
He missed out on the ODI World Cups in 2019 and 2023 and the 2025 Champions Trophy due to injuries.
Nortje has though been playing short-format cricket continuously since representing the Dolphins in the CSA T20 Challenge before going to India with the Proteas.
"Hopefully I get selected but for now it's just to try and build, take it game by game and day by day," he added.
"I had a nice little build up starting with the CSA T20 challenge and then got the call up for the India series. I'd call it the ideal build up.
"From here on it's just to try and execute and work on one or two things. It's also so busy, so it's just to try and keep momentum going, keep a clear head and keep focus.
"I'd probably call it the ideal build up just from where I was a few months ago to now."
Persistent rain ensured there was little cricket on offer as the SA20 clash between Durban’s Super Giants and MI Cape Town at Kingsmead on Sunday was abandoned after just four overs.
Joburg Super Kings claimed their first win at Centurion in four seasons by beating Pretoria Capitals, while Paarl Royals were demolished by Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
The SA20 2025/26 season kicked off with a spectacular encounter as the Durban Super Giants secured a 15-run victory over MI Cape Town in a match that saw over 400 runs scored.
MI Cape Town's Rassie van der Dussen believes he is "lucky and privileged" to have Proteas legend Hashim Amla as a batting coach ahead of the fourth season of SA20.
