Just a day before the opening Test Match of England's tour of Sri Lanka, the home captain Sanath Jayasuriya had some encouragement for the tourists when he claimed his side will find the heat difficult after a period abroad.

Teams visiting Sri Lanka are often thought to be the underdogs because they aren't familiar with the intense heat and humidity. England have been working hard on their fitness during the build-up to the series in order to combat that.

But as preparations for the start of the three-Test series draw to a close, Jayasuriya suggested the climate may not favour his team as much as usual after their recent tour of New Zealand.

"We've been away for the last two or three months and it has been difficult for us to adjust," Jayasuriya admitted.

"Even we have had to get used to the heat again and that is why we have been practising in the afternoon and evening this week.

"It is going to be hard for England because they are obviously not used to it, but it affects us as well because we are now used to being in New Zealand."

Even if that is welcome news for England, watching Sri Lanka's premier off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan at the Galle International Stadium today will hardly have eased their worries.

Muralitharan calmed any concerns about the groin injury he sustained in New Zealand by bowling in the nets for over an hour.

Sri Lanka say they will give Muralitharan as much time as possible to recover before announcing their final team, but it would be very surprising if he was not named in their line-up tomorrow.

"Murali is our key player," said Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore.

"We won't rush him because he is too important to risk, but we'll give him every chance and if that means giving him up to half an hour before the match then so be it.

"If you are looking for important areas and key players in this series it is hard to get away from the importance of Muralitharan."

For England, Ashley Giles is expected to carry the spin attack along with Glamorgan's Robert Croft, and either Graeme Hick or Michael Vaughan's occasional off-spin. Andrew Caddick, Darren Gough and Craig White will probably form the seam attack.

England could also play all seven batsmen and leave out one of the seamers.

© CricInfo Ltd.