IN CENTURION

Makhaya Ntini, already under pressure on two fronts, faces a third challenge over the next five days in which he has to prove to the national selectors who today gather at the most unlikely venue for a final in South Africa, Buffalo Park.

With the politicians breathing fire and brimstone over the ``snails pace'' of the development programme and Peter Pollock's panel impatient of his return to form, Ntini has already overcome an injury scare to play for Border in the final of the SuperSport Series against Western Province.

Having made, along with Alan Dawson, the short list of 19 for the World Cup squad, Ntini's performances have this season often been greeted with concern. The young new-ball bowler is in that area of the game's ``development'' stage where the learning curve and cutting edge have become blunted. It is this failure which has left Ntini in the sort of form vacuum many find themselves after the success of the previous summer.

It is not so easy to take wickets the second time around when the pressures are greater, and expectations of Ntini's progress from other quarters have not helped the young man.

So far Border have relied on the Bajan, Vasbert Drakes, with a haul of 50 A Section wickets this season, to spearhead their attack with Nitini struggling to keep his game intact with the demands of the politicians and the national selectors.

While Pollock, convener of the national selectors remains convinced that Dawson should overcome his injury and continue his preparation without too many problems, Ntini's case is far different. He was the latest icon on the alter of the development policy. Now he is need of new direction.

Indications are that Province are approaching the game as if they have already won the trophy; confident and perhaps a blase. Which may be taking Border a little lightly and a danger of over-confidence.

There has been a suggestion that HD Ackerman, who broke Barry Richards records last season and earned a test cap, is in danger of being dropped.

The game could also be a farewell call for Eric Simons, although he is one of the mainstays of a Province attack which has struggled to take wickets with his haul of 30 second on the averages. In fact the top five bowlers in the A Section averages is enough to make anyone who takes the slightest interest in who of those on the fringe of the World Cup have the best chance are in for a surprise. Drakes, Simons, Quentin Ferreira, Mark Davis and Meyrick Pringle are not on the selectors list of even may be's.

And, just for fun, Newlands has the chance of seeing perhaps the embryo stages of the South Africa new-ball attack of the millennium in action: Mornantau Hayward and David Townsend. They are in the SA President's XI against England A, and this combination could provide an interesting duel for the batsmen.