INDIAN captain Mohammad Azharuddin believes his side are capable of surprising World Cup favourites South Africa at Hove today, whether master batsman Sachin Tendulkar performs or not.

Azharuddin, who is playing in his fourth World Cup, says his side should not be under-rated.

"I firmly believe the team who plays best on the day usually wins these games, all our matches will be tough but we have a side which can put pressure on South Africa," he said.

"A lot of people will look to Sachin and there is great expectation back home, but we will get the best out of all our boys."

Azharuddin is 127 runs short of 9,000 in one-day internationals and feels there is a good chance of closing in on that milestone today.

"Hove is as good a wicket as any in the country and this one looks full of runs," he added.

"We have prepared well and the boys have come here with a very positive attitude, this is a very important game for us but we think we can do well."

Indian manager Anshuman Gaekwad confirmed that Tendulkar would open the innings, but he will have orders to try and bat through the 50 overs instead of attacking in the first 15, when only two fielders are allowed outside the 30 metre circle.

Gaekwad said: "He will look at batting out the overs. If he plays 50 overs, we are bound to get a big score. A victory is obviously what we want, but the boys will not be unduly worried if we lose."

"It's good to get a tough match out of the way first because we will be that much stronger for the other games. The team is in a good frame of mind. The focus so far has been on trying new things, it's now time to put that in practice."

Both sides completed their preparations with practice sessions yesterday, and South African coach Bob Woolmer insisted that his side would not be targetting Tendulkar specifically.

He said: "In the first game of the World Cup everyone is nervous. Hopefully Sachin will be nervous facing Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis or whoever else opens the bowling."

Both teams are fully fit, but neither will declare their side until shortly before the 10.45am start.

South Africa (probable): Kirsten, Gibbs, Boucher, Cullinan, Kallis, Cronje (capt), Benkenstein or Crookes, Pollock, Kluesener, Boje, Donald.

India: Azharuddin, Tendulkar, Dravid, Jadeja, Ramesh, Singh, Kambli, Ganguly, Agarkar, Mongia, Srinath, Prasad, Kumble.

Umpires: David Shepherd (Eng), Steve Bucknor (West Indies).

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.