LONDON - South Africa are not displaying any nervous signs that their populist image as World Cup favourites has affected them on the eve of the game's biggest limited-overs showpiece in an England where grey skies are unlikely to dampen today's opening match at Lord's.

Quietly tucked away in Brighton far from the brassy tunes of the first day, Hansie Cronje's cheerful crew have a further 24 hours to wait before they open their innings against India at Hove. Yet their practice sessions down the road at the Sussex county ground are well attended by an army of growing supporters and South African flags are being sold in large numbers at the seaside city

While the hosts, England, and World Cup title-holders Sri Lanka, sparred with good humoured rivalry during their practice sessions at Lord's yesterday, South Africa, went through another thoroughly prepared practice session, their Group A rivals India were also limbering up further north. Their plan is to travel down from Nottingham today where their game against the county now coached by Clive Rice was a rain affected victory.

South Africa are likely to go into the game tomorrow with the same side which thumped Kent on Sunday although Dale Benkensein is expected to be replaced by Jonty Rhodes, his injury recovery complete. The only concern so far has been Steve Elworthy's fitness.

Naturally most pavilion chatter has been South Africa's efforts to curb Sachin Tendulkar, the little Indian master, otherwise there will be more attention about their on game plan.

Yet, as the first of the 42 matches spread over five weeks starts today, teams such as Pakistan, a long odds shot as a semi-finalist, are feeling the rust edge of the English spring. So far they have faced 60 overs and bowled 17 in the three warm-up games. Now they want a fourth added to the list as some way of compensation for dodging the showers and working out the intricacies of the eccentric Duckworth/Lewis revised target format in rain affected matches used for this tournament.

As second favourites Australia head for New Road Worcester with an opening game against Scotland's ``tartan'' hopefuls who drew the short straw in their first World Cup Group B outing on Sunday.

Back at tournament headquarters, however, a pasty faced pensioner yesterday grumbled about the weather (no doubt about his lumbago as well) and barely nodded to his right when giving direction to the media centre. There was plenty of activity at the indoor nets as there were at the outdoor nets.

As would happen Alec Stewart, in his best touch of jingoism yet, said England had been happy with most aspects of the three warm-up matches. The two Gs - Graeme Hick and Graham Thorpe - ``were in fine nick'', which said nothing at all about the other nick: Nick Knight. Like his technique his form should be causing concern.

England's bowlers should have the edge over World Cup title-holders Sri Lanka who have shown a vulnerability on the pudding surfaces and late away swing generated by such as James Ormond of Leicestershire who nibbled away at the edge of their proffered bats as well as their confidence.

This being the case it will be interesting to see how Darren Gough, Ian Austin and Alan Mullally perform against the smiling features of the Sri Lanka captain, Arjuna Ranatunga. The rotund skipper did a little neat side-stepping at Lord's yesterday as day one of the World Cup, 1999 version, loomed only hours away.

Either is was time to be nice or the abrasive pre-tournament psychological high ground battle had already been declared a draw until the sides meet again in the semi-finals, or Super Six stage, providing both get through.

But Ranatunga, a tad more jovial than the more serious Stewart, stepped out of the nets at Lord's and proclaimed Sri Lanka were ready to defend the crown won in 1996. He could not do much else, could he?

Eyeing the grey clouds threatening to unleash a dollop of yet another heavy shower, the Sri Lankans are hopeful that playing at a venue where England's record is about as woeful as the current weather trends will wok in their favour. For the opening game it is going to be a bracing 17C with clouds and a likelihood of showers.

About the only other dark cloud looming here is who of the fast bowlers are genuine dart throwers when it comes to letting it really rip. There have been murmurings about Glenn McGrath, Chaminda Vaas and Courtney Walsh. Now Pakistan's latest wonder kind, Shoaib Akhtar is being viewed with a quizzical eyebrow.