The South African captain said England's problems were regarded as an irrelevance on the eve of the second Test. ``It doesn't matter to us,'' said Cronje in the belief that any 11 England put out will present his side with a serious challenge.

The weather, though, is a major cause for concern and Cronje and his team-mates were keeping a close eye on the forecast last night. He said: ``There has been a lot of talk about rain and the first day being a wash-out. That's the last thing we want to be thinking.

``We want to get the guys concentrating on their roles and getting stuck in.''

Cronje will be relying on his pace attack of Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock if England have first use of a good-looking pitch. In the first Test at Edgbaston, Donald and Pollock were wayward with the new ball as England built-up a commanding score of 249 for one, including a century by Mike Atherton.

``I know we can only get better than we were on that first day,'' said Cronje. ``It's all about a fraction of a yard in length, that's what we are looking for. I have a lot of confidence in them.''

South Africa are set to make one change from the Edgbaston Test, with Gerry Liebenberg most likely to step down for Adam Bacher, although the return of all-rounder Brian McMillan to the Test area after nearly five months cannot be ruled out.

It will be South Africa's 50th Test since returning from international isolation and the occasion is not lost on Cronje.

``It's the 50th Test and at Lord's. It will be very special and it will evoke fond memories,'' he said.

Coincidentally, South Africa's 50th Test of all time was also played at Lord's in 1924, when Herbie Taylor's side were thrashed by an innings and 18 runs by an England side captained by Arthur Gilligan.