SA's date with danger

South Africa warmed up for today's Champions Trophy match against India with a shambling performance against Pakistan at the Oval on Monday.

India completed their dress rehearsals with a stonking win over Australia in Cardiff on Tuesday.

South Africa crashed and burned to a total of 202/9, then bowled listlessly to give Pakistan victory by six wickets with 27 balls to spare.

India racked up 308/6 before blasting the Aussies out for 65 in 23.3 overs.

In short, South Africa will have a fight on their hands today.

So AB de Villiers could be forgiven for clinging to the silver lining: "It's good to have walked into a very good Pakistan team on a wicket that did a bit in the morning. It's not a bad thing to lose warm-up games.

"It's a bit of a wake-up call to remind us that this is the time to go. We're in the big tournament now: no more room for error."

And what of the Indians?

"It helps to know they're a very dangerous side," De Villiers said. "We're going to have to beat them by playing together as 11 guys. That is the only way to beat a talented side like them.

"We'll have to come out like a pack of wolves and really try towards one goal: to win the game."

That pack could be missing a key wolf. A decision on Dale Steyn's fitness after his side strain on Monday will be taken this morning.

"It's not looking good; it's touch and go," De Villiers said. "It's not the only game we're going to play and we wouldn't like him out for the rest of the tournament."

Steyn or no Steyn, South Africa will rely on their fast bowlers to win the key battle against India's quality batting line-up.

Morné Morkel would be expected to step into the Steyn-sized breach, and a chunk of extra responsibility would fall onto the shoulders of Ryan McLaren, Rory Kleinveldt and Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

They will step over the boundary armed with a licence to rip out throats.

"We all know in England the new ball is important, to try and take wickets in the first 10 overs, which has happened here in the last few weeks," said De Villiers.

"So we'll be trying to target that, but we're not going to complicate things. We'll try to keep it simple, and just seize the day.

"We'll try to assess as quickly as possible what lines and lengths are working for us, and we'll have an attacking mindset of picking up wickets early on."

The news that Quinton de Kock had joined the squad as cover for De Villiers prompted fears that the latter's chronic back problem had returned.

De Villiers described his fitness status as "100% - there is nothing wrong with me".

However, "If I get injured tomorrow we're going to need a wicketkeeper. It would be a bit unfair for him to fly in the night before a game against Pakistan, for instance. Whenever something does happen to me he'll be ready," De Villiers said.