SRI LANKAN cricketers will front up to a South African side oozing with confidence after their two Test wins, in the one-dayer beginning at the Wanderers tomorrow.
But instant cricket is a different ball game and the Lankans if how they have been doing their thing at practice sessions is an indication, then they seem to have the Proteas all taped up and are gritting their teeth waiting to get even after their Test losses.
What is heartening is that the Lankans have managed to get over their pathetic second innings collapse in the Test and focus on the triangular which they must win to maintain their World Cup winning status.
In the one-day game, there are no favourites. It is what you do on the field that counts. To perform the essentials right in this type of game is what matters. Batsmen are expected to bat sensibly, bowlers bowl wicket to wicket and the fielders grab the half chances.
South Africa and Pakistan hold the Sri Lankans in high esteem. They are aware that the Lankans have it in them to come from behind. They will always be looking to have the Lankans by the jagular.
What is upsetting to skipper Ranatunga is that while his batting and fielding side picks itself, it is the bowling that is causing him the headaches. Zoyza is out, while Vaas will not be his usual fit self and will not be firing at his best.
Vaas must be admired for agreeing to answer his skipper. Most other bowlers with Vaas' injury would have preferred to watch the game from the cool of the pavilion. But not this great-hearted bowler. He will suffer pain for his team and country.
Ranatunga is certain to slot in allrounders Kumara Dharmasena and Upul Chandana for this game. They will push out a middle order batsman and a paceman. The inclusion of these two will certainly add more muscle all round.
When batting, it is the prayer of everyone that 'black superman' Sanath Jayasuriya gets his act together. He looked threatening in the Tests, but his life at the wicket was suddenly throttled. He is out to make amends and if he gets going, then the full house that is expected - there will be over 500 Sri Lankan supporters shouting themselves hoarse - and the local supporters will see a batting explosion.
Jayasuriya does a lot of adjusting before focussing on the bowler. By that time, the bowler is three quarter through his run up. Jayasuriya must shed this bad habit.
Roshan Mahanama must also kick his penchant for shuffling. This habit has had him LBW on several occasions.
Sri Lanka's batting - if the team lines up like his runs up to number 10 - Jayasuriya, Atapattu, Mahanama, Aravinda de Silva, Ranatunga, Kaluwitharana, Dharmasena, Chandana, Wickremasinghe, Vaas and Muralitharan - and they must all make it their business to get among the runs.
The fielding will hold its own, while it will be interesting to see how the bowlers perform. The bowlers will look match winners if the fielders grab the half chances.
As for the South Africans playing before their home supporters and with a crushing win over Pakistan under their belts, should be encouraging.
They have a side elegant and compact in all aspects and they proved this against the Pakistanis. But then this type of game is full of uncertainties and the unforseen could happen.
But whatever the result, it will be one-day cricket at its best and the better side will win.