Sri Lanka come across as a potent force with world-class batters like Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne but it's their lethal bowling attack that makes them one of the serious contenders for the title. The wily Muttiah Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga, with his slinging arm-action, form a formidable spin-pace partnership that can unsettle even the best batters the world.

And the fact that Sri Lanka will be enjoying the home advantage, not many critics are giving Pakistan much chance of winning Saturday's game.

But ask Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan vice-captain, and he will tell you that the visitors know Sri Lanka's game too well to fear them.

"We know Sri Lanka's game, just like they know ours," Misbah said here as his teammates trained in the nets. "We have played a lot against each other, especially in the last few years which is why we know what to expect from them.

Before Misbah joined a group of Pakistani reporters for a chit-chat, Pakistan manager Intikhab Alam told 'Arab News' that Misbah will be his team's key man against Murailtharan.

"Misbah reads him (Muralitharan) really well," said Intikhab, a former Pakistan captain. "He plays him solidly, perhaps even better than how Inzamam-ul-Haq used to tackle Murali." Misbah, however, played down Intikhab's comments, saying most of his team's batters can tackle Murali, even on his home turf.

"Both Murali and Malinga are world-class bowlers," he said. "But the thing is that we are used to facing them. Many of our batters know how to tackle them. Younis Khan does it really well," he added.

Misbah stressed that the Pakistani batsmen tackle Murali better than most of the other teams because they regularly spar with good spinners back home. "Some of them bowl like Murali," said Misbah.

Misbah, 36, stressed that Pakistan will follow a simple plan to win tomorrow's vital match.

"It's certainly a vital match for both the teams," said the experienced batsman.

"The team that wins it will have a great chance to finish among the top two from the group.

"We have a simple plan for tomorrow's match. Just play according to merit." Pakistan have never lost any World Cup against Sri Lanka and their skipper Shahid Afridi wants to keep that record intact.

"I am confident that we are up to the Sri Lankan challenge and ready for anything they throw at us, whether its Malinga or Muralitharan," Afridi said after Pakistan massacred Kenya by 205 runs on Wednesday.

"In Sri Lankan conditions and pitches, he (Muralitharan) is always very dangerous and he could probably turn the ball on the marble as well. He has so much experience and knows conditions well and that's why he is the best," said Afridi.

Malinga, who missed the game against Canada because of a back strain, did not bowl when Sri Lanka trained here on Thursday. Afridi believes that the fast bowler could be rusty if he plays on Saturday.

"Malinga is a very good bowler but he is coming back from an injury, so let's see how strong he is and how much he can adjust to the conditions," said Afridi.