"We've prepared well, so I'm happy. We are ready." Rarely does a captain speak so honestly and confidently before a Test match but Shaun Pollock is not in the business of making excuses and never has been.

Even when things have gone, or are going poorly, he tells the truth and the truth at the moment is that the South African Test XI is as settled as it has ever been, there are no injury worries and most of the players are in good form.

Even Allan Donald, whose first six overs in two innings against a combined Busta XI cost 40 and 36 runs respectively, is no cause for concern according to the South African captain.

"I've spoken to him and he says he's feeling fine. The ball is coming out nicely and he says the rhythm is fine, so I'm not worried at all," Pollock said.

"Most guys had a decent knock in the middle and we all had a good bowl. I tried all my options and I've got a good idea what's happening, so it's all looking pretty good," said Pollock, maintaining the theme of uncomplaining, quiet confidence ahead of the first Test at the Bourda beginning on Friday.

Team meetings on tour so far have concentrated on the theme of the opposition's home and away record with 5-0 whitewashes in South Africa two years ago and in Australia two months ago counting for nothing.

"They have lost one series on home soil in 25 years," says SA coach Graham Ford. "That's an incredible record and it hasn't happened by accident. People expect us to win but it's going to take a hell of an effort to do it," Ford says.

Although Daryll Cullinan did not progress past the 20s against the Busta XI in the three-day, warm-up match at the Everest Cricket Club, he showed enough glimpses of form to suggest that a big score is just around the corner and was unlucky with both his dismissals.

Neil McKenzie, however, did struggle for timing against the local spinners in that match and, if there is a concern, then it may be him. Otherwise Herschelle Gibbs looked in prime form, Jacques Kallis batted for nearly three hours for 45, Gary Kirsten made a half century, Mark Boucher topped 100 runs in the match and Lance Klusener belted 60 in typically exhilarating style.

Makhaya Ntini and Nicky Boje both took wickets while Klusener showed that his brisk off-cutters may be a more potent weapon in the Caribbean than his faster, seam-up style of bowling.

If South Africa's preparations have been near perfect, however, the home side's have been anything but. The Jamaican and Guyanese players in the West Indies squad do not arrive in Georgetown until 7:00 pm on Wednesday (after the Busta Cup final) leaving the squad just a single day, on Thursday, to prepare.

Carl Hooper's appointment as captain appears to have attracted criticism and cynicism in equal measure although that shouldn't be a problem in Guyana where he will take the field in front of his adoring, home crowd.

Brian Lara was not involved in the Busta Cup, however, and he enjoyed a lengthy net practise in Georgetown on Wednesday morning. The truth is, he looked bereft of form and hopelessly out of touch, but what does that mean?

"Nothing" say the South Africans, who talk all the time of how he scored three centuries in a row to earn a 2-2 series against Australia immediately after the 5-0 hiding in South Africa in 1998-99.

Preparation is one thing, but all that matters happens in the middle.

South Africa: Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Neil McKenzie, Mark Boucher, Lance Klusener, Nicky Boje, Shaun Pollock (captain), Allan Donald, Makhaya Ntini.

West Indies XIII: Wavell Hinds, Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brian Lara, Carl Hooper (captain), Marlon Samuels, Ridley Jacobs, Dinanath Ramnarine, Mervyn Dillon, Reon King, Courtney Walsh, Nixon McLean, Ramnaresh Sarwan.

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