Durban: South African skipper Graeme Smith on Friday said the five-match One-Day cricket series against Australia was a good opportunity to prepare for the next year's World cup.
"With the Cricket World Cup just more than a year away, South Africa hopes to use the series against Australia to iron out flaws and gear them up for the event," Smith said ahead of their tour opening Pro 20 match at Johannesburg.
Smith said the hosts would leave no stone unturned to bring about a reversal of their recent poor performance in Australia.
"Already, reinforcements have been called in to assist the team in their quest to topple the Aussies," he said.
Jonty Rhodes has taken charge of the fielding drills, while paceman Allan Donald kept a watchful eye over the bowlers.
Meanwhile, both teams are dealing with injuries ahead of the Pro 20, a 20 overs a side match, slated later on Friday.
From the home side, Justin Kemp has been ruled out, while Shaun Pollock will play only as a batsman.
In the Australian camp, Andrew Symonds suffered a thigh strain and will miss the opening match of the tour.
Replying to a question on the possiblity of the home crowd turning hostile against the Aussies, Smith said it was a part and parcel of every tour but maintained that he would not like to see that kind of reception given to the visiting Australians.
There are fears that spectators might hurl abuses at the visitors in retaliation for the racial taunts that the Proteas encountered on their recent trip to Australia.
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