“They are such a big team, world champs and haven't lost (in the World Cup) for ages,” Younis said.

Four victories in five matches have given Pakistan a place in the knockout stage, but the 1992 champion has a chance to top Group A by beating Australia on the weekend.

“That is an opportunity,” Younis said. “If you beat them you can leave a mark and teams will think twice about playing against you.” Younis isn't placing much emphasis on Pakistan's progress to the knockout stage, despite the team failing to advance from the first round at the 2003 and 2007 editions after losing the 1999 final to Australia.

“To say that we have achieved a lot here because we didn't qualify the last two times would be wrong,” Younis said. “Once you get to the quarterfinals, the real game starts there - the game of nerves, the pressure game.” Victories over weak Kenya, Canada and Zimbabwe could have been enough for Pakistan to progress into the next stage, but it also surprised co-host Sri Lanka with a narrow 11-run win.

When Pakistan did lose in the group stage, though, it was heavy. Wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal's two crucial dropped catches of Ross Taylor helped New Zealand to record an emphatic 110-run victory against Shahid Afridi's team.

Quarterfinals are “an achievement, but not such a one because it was expected,” Younis said. “The most important game is the next one because from there when you jump into quarters we need to get some momentum.” Pakistan was the last team to beat Australia at a World Cup - in the group stage of the 1999 tournament. Stephen Waugh's Australians made amends by thrashing Pakistan in a lopsided final at Lord's - the first of three consecutive World Cup final wins for the Aussies.

Younis was unaware that Monday's run chase of a revised target of 162 off 38 overs was the first successful World Cup chase by Pakistan since it defeated New Zealand in the 1999 semifinals by nine wickets.

“I didn't know that we never chased in the World Cup (for such a long time),” Younis said. “It's an achievement without a doubt.” Pakistan has a tradition of experimenting with new players in big tournaments. Inzamam-ul-Haq is a good example. He scored back-to-back half centuries in Imran Khan's successful World Cup campaign in 1992 and later became Pakistan captain.

On Monday, 25-year-old Asad Shafiq showed immense composure, temperament and technique in his debut, scoring unbeaten 78 off 97 balls.

“He is a very compact (player) and played very sensibly, could be one good cricketer for Pakistan,” Younis said.

Bowling is not such a worry for Pakistan in the tournament as captain Afridi is leading the wicket-takers chart with 16 wickets. Fast bowler Umar Gul could take only 1-60 against Sri Lanka but is now touching 92 kph more often and is also getting the reverse swing.

“Whenever (Gul) is hurt, he comes back as a real good bowler,” Younis said. “Whenever people start talking about his rhythm or thinking of dropping him, he bounces back.

“Against Sri Lanka he bowled well at times and that hurt him. He worked tremendously hard in the nets since then.” Also on the plus side, reaching the revised target of 162 in 38 overs against Zimbabwe on Monday night was the first time Pakistan had successfully chased to win a World Cup match since thrashing New Zealand in the 1999 semifinals.

The headache for the coach are his openers - Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad - who're yet to score a half century partnership in the tournament and have given starts of just 11, 28, 16, 5 and 17.

“We're thinking of building an opening partnership, that is the first point,” Younis said. “I hope we don't lose early wickets against Australia.

“In the heat of the moment you play silly shots and that's how you learn cricket.” Pakistan is ranked No. 6 in the one-day international rankings, but that's not how Younis sees it.

“For me Pakistan is No. 1 without any doubt and all we have to do is do our best to beat them (Australia) on the day.”