Pakistan face SA challenge

Pakistan hope their resurgence in the World Cup continues against South Africa at Eden Park on Saturday with the Proteas' coach warning of the Asians' "predictable unpredictability".

The 1992 champions need a victory to keep their hopes alive for a quarterfinal place after losing their first two games before winning the next two.

Standing between Pakistan and a place in the next round are South Africa and then a dangerous Ireland side but coach Waqar Younis believes his team was peaking at the right time.

Waqar admitted his team needs to lift its game more against a big team like South Africa who have won three of their four matches, scoring 400-plus totals in the last two.

"We need to win against a big team like South Africa to tell the world that we belong at the World Cup and we have done it before," said Waqar of Pakistan's 2-1 one-day series win in South Africa late in 2013.

But Pakistan have never beaten South Africa in a World Cup match, losing to their African rivals in 1992, 1996 and 1999.

Pakistan will also hope their spearhead Mohammad Irfan regains full fitness after injuring a hip muscle in the match against UAE. 

Although Waqar was confident the fast bowler would be fit, the seven foot Irfan will be assessed during Friday's practice session.

South Africa, who can make the quarterfinals with a win, will have JP Duminy fit again after missing the last two games due to a side strain. He is likely to replace Farhan Behardien.

"A guy like JP will definitely get back in the mix. He has been one of our best players over a period of time," coach Russell Domingo said, who was cautious over the return of seamer Vernon Philander.

"We need to make sure Vernon is 100 percent ready to go because we need to be careful with a hamstring strain with the important stage of the competition still to come."

"Pakistan's unpredictability is not a challenge because they are predictably unpredictable, if that makes sense. Their strength lies in the predictability of their unpredictability," Domingo added.

While all the pre-match talk centred around the players' performances, there is high possibility of the weather playing a role in the outcome of the game, with New Zealand's MetService predicting some heavy rain showers during the afternoon.

Pakistan hope their resurgence in the World Cup continues against South Africa at Eden Park on Saturday with the Proteas' coach warning of the Asians' "predictable unpredictability".

The 1992 champions need a victory to keep their hopes alive for a quarterfinal place after losing their first two games before winning the next two.

Standing between Pakistan and a place in the next round are South Africa and then a dangerous Ireland side but coach Waqar Younis believes his team was peaking at the right time.

Waqar admitted his team needs to lift its game more against a big team like South Africa who have won three of their four matches, scoring 400-plus totals in the last two.

"We need to win against a big team like South Africa to tell the world that we belong at the World Cup and we have done it before," said Waqar of Pakistan's 2-1 one-day series win in South Africa late in 2013.

But Pakistan have never beaten South Africa in a World Cup match, losing to their African rivals in 1992, 1996 and 1999.

Pakistan will also hope their spearhead Mohammad Irfan regains full fitness after injuring a hip muscle in the match against UAE.

Although Waqar was confident the fast bowler would be fit, the seven foot Irfan will be assessed during Friday's practice session.

South Africa, who can make the quarterfinals with a win, will have JP Duminy fit again after missing the last two games due to a side strain. He is likely to replace Farhan Behardien.

"A guy like JP will definitely get back in the mix. He has been one of our best players over a period of time," coach Russell Domingo said, who was cautious over the return of seamer Vernon Philander.

"We need to make sure Vernon is 100 percent ready to go because we need to be careful with a hamstring strain with the important stage of the competition still to come."

"Pakistan's unpredictability is not a challenge because they are predictably unpredictable, if that makes sense. Their strength lies in the predictability of their unpredictability," Domingo added.

While all the pre-match talk centred around the players' performances, there is high possibility of the weather playing a role in the outcome of the game, with New Zealand's MetService predicting some heavy rain showers during the afternoon.