West Indies' Shivnarine Chanderpaul also attended the practice session in Mumbai. - Reuters

MUMBAI, India (CMC):

Senior West Indies batsman and former captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul believes that facing world champions Australia tomorrow in the first game of the Group stage of the ICC Champions Trophy will bring out the best in the West Indies team.

"Australia is a tough team and facing the best helps to bring out one's best as well," the unorthodox 32-year-old left-hander said.

The West Indies are preparing for the defence of their Cham-pions Trophy title at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. They play against the Australians in Mumbai.

Still confident

Despite losing the final game of the qualifying round to Sri Lanka by nine wickets after the batsmen collapsed, Chanderpaul said the unit was still very confident of their chances.

"We're still confident, we just need to eliminate those one or two bad games we've been getting," the former skipper said.

"Australia is the number one team, it's never easy to beat them so it would be really great for us to beat them, and get a head start in this competition," Chanderpaul said.

Difficult Group A

Saturday's defeat to the Sri Lankans meant the regional side will contest a potentially difficult Group A against world cham-pions and top-ranked Australia, hosts India and England, whom they defeated in the final of the 2004 tournament.

The Australians may be motivated by the prospect of winning the Champions Trophy for the first time, while the Indians have the home advantage.

England are missing a number of key players and will be hard-pressed to figure prominently in the competition.