South Africa's Makhaya Ntini jokes with teammates after their training session was called off due to rain in Basseterre yesterday. Ntini joined the team Wednesday night ahead of their opening match against the Netherlands today. - Reuters

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (AP):

SOUTH AFRICA'S record pursuit of 434 last year against Australia has given them belief that anything is possible in one-day cricket.

Speaking ahead of South Africa's opening World Cup match against the Netherlands today, captain Graeme Smith pointed to the 3-2 series win over Australia in March 2006, capped by scoring 438 in the final game, as proof.

"Once you achieve targets of chasing over 400, you almost break the barrier in terms of thinking what's possible," he said on Wednesday. "To chase 434 and win the game really gives you a lot of confidence in all facets of what you want to achieve, and I think this team broke a lot of barriers that day."

Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath had accused South Africa of fearing defeat and a lack of self-belief, echoing comments from former Australia skipper Stephen Waugh.

But Smith returned the retort, and spiced up the key Group A clash between the world's top-ranked teams at Warner Park on March 24.

"I think we've handled pressure a lot better than Australia of late, in the big games," Smith said. "In the past 10 one-dayers, we've been under pressure at times and got out of it superb late before this tournament, in some finals and obviously in New Zealand, but both teams come into this tournament with the same amount of pressure on their shoulders."

South Africa have to first play the Netherlands and Smith will be without fast bowler Makhaya Ntini, who rejoined the squad on Wednesday after staying home to attend the birth of his second child.

"We wanted him to sort out his family business first, we don't want him worrying about his wife and new daughter," Smith said.

Ntini is likely to be replaced by either paceman Roger Telemachus or left-arm finger spinner Robin Peterson."Apart from the fact that there are one or two South Africans in there that we do know - there are one or two South Africans in most teams - we don't know a lot about them," Smith said.

Line-ups

South Africa (probable): Graeme Smith (captain), A.B. de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs, Loots Bosman, Justin Kemp, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Andre Nel, Roger Telemachus.

Netherlands (probable): Darron Reekers, Baz Zuiderent, Alexei Kervezee, Ryan Ten Doeschate, Daan van Bunge, Eric Szwarczynski, Tim de Leede, Luuk van Troost (captain), Peter Borren, Billy Stelling, Jeroen Smits.