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South Africa will be wary of Australia's potential

The pressure will be on Australian skipper Steve Waugh when the Aussies take on favourites South Africa in the last of the Super Six league matches of the World Cup.

Despite mounting confidence, Australia have a couple of problems to tackle. Like leggie Shane Warne's dramatic loss of form, and the fitness of Darren Lehmann. Added to that is the verdict of the penultimate match between India and New Zealand. If New Zealand wins, the Aussies will have to beat The Proteas.

Even as the team took its bus to Leeds, the management decided to monitor Lehmann, who had two stitches in the index finger of his left hand after being hit in the game against Zimbabwe. They will decide tomorrow morning whether Damien Martyn would replace Lehmann.

Two poor games, after his three for eleven against the West Indies, has put Warne in a spot. The lapse in form could be traced to the time before the Super Six series, when he reported soreness in his right shoulder and neck. While the team management and Warne continue to say that all is fine, it appears to have had an impact on his bowling - he had one for 55 off nine overs against Zimbabwe, and 0 for 49, off 6.2 overs, against India. Certainly, they will be hoping that the ace leg spinner regains his form.

Waugh has the backing of the chairman of the selectors, Trevor Hohns, who said, "I thought Warne bowled reasonably well. He did pretty well to come back and finish like he did."

South Africa captain Hansie Cronje said: "Australia are going to be under pressure and tense, and our mood may give us the upperhand."

Cronje, who cracked a rare smile when his team clinched a semi-final spot after defeating Kiwis, said: "At last we have made it. And we are hugely relieved, especially after 1996."

Three years ago in the Indian sub-continent, the Proteas cruised through the first round, only to be knocked out by the West Indies, for whom Brian Lara came up with a fine century.

The hectic mathematical calculations have now been reduced to simplicity after Pakistan defeated Zimbabwe in their last league encounter and slammed the door on India.

South Africa are already in the semi-finals, and would be toying with the idea of playing safe against Australia to decide its position and choose its rival in the semi-finals.

The Australians could finish on top of the Super Six table if they beat South Africa. The fact that Australia has the highest net run-rate of any of the Super Six teams could yet prove to be crucial.

South Africa underlined their supremacy when they systematically demolished the Kiwis. The top order, against whom Cronje was highly critical, struck form, with both Gary Kirseten and Herschelle Gibbs compiling a 176-run partnership for the opening wicket.

In the earlier matches, the batting did not perform to expectations, and they won mainly because of some outstanding contributions from allrounder Lance Klusener.

Bob Woolmer and Cronje feel he team has peaked at the right time, though they are wary of the potential of the Australians. In passing, Cronje did mention that his side would have to keep an eye on the Aussies. "They are a team capable of winning the Cup," he said.

UNI