Graeme Smith and Justin Kemp during a training session on Thursday. (Reuters)

Chandigarh: The Pakistanis aren’t far from home, but it’s the South Africans who are getting that at-home feeling. It’s a nice cushion in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy’s unofficial quarter final, Friday, in neighbouring Mohali.

The at-home feeling, of course, has nothing to do with the ambience of this rapidly-changing city. Rather, the surface at the PCA Stadium is providing Graeme Smith and Co. all the comfort. The Makhaya Ntinis, clearly, must be itching to get on to the park.

“The practice wickets this (Thursday) morning were like home and not becoming gung-ho is going to be important... We can’t get carried away... There was juice and carry and we expect to have the same tomorrow,” a distinctly pleased Smith remarked.

While he described Bob Woolmer (who coached South Africa from around the mid-Nineties till the 1999 World Cup) as being “clever,” Pakistan’s current coach will have to plot something out of the ordinary if his team is to progress.

Incidentally, the Mohali face-off is going to be the first between the countries after Woolmer succeeded Javed Miandad in June 2004. Asked if there would be a ‘conflict’ of emotions, he told The Telegraph: “Inevitably, but I’m beholden to my paymaster... I’ve coached some of the South Africans, yes, but can only look forward to Pakistan making the semi-finals...”

Woolmer has worked with Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher, Herschelle Gibbs and Ntini. With Jonty Rhodes (the fielding coach) as well. It’s to be seen, though, just how much of a factor will Woolmer’s past be. “The stakes are high,” he acknowledged.

If form is a pointer, the South Africans defeated Sri Lanka (“a massive boost,” in Smith’s words) in their last match, while Pakistan lost to New Zealand Wednesday night. That the surface is expected to be fast and bouncy is bound to add to Pakistan’s pressure. However, having already played in Mohali, they could — on paper, at least — prepare better.

Not that the South Africans are taking them lightly. “One never takes Pakistan for granted and our feet are on the ground (after the handsome win over Sri Lanka)... We’re going to focus on our game plan and attack... Hopefully, we’ll be able to implement that,” Smith said.

Aggression does come somewhat naturally to the South Africans. Smith explained: “We play with passion and there’s great hunger... Great fight for places, too... International cricket is all about pressure and, if you can’t handle it, you shouldn’t be there...”

Pakistan’s stand-in captain Younis Khan is looking to “minimise” mistakes. “We made far too many against New Zealand and let go opportunities...” he pointed out. It prompted Woolmer to quip: “We would like to change things and put up a sign ‘Normal service is to be resumed soon’... There’s much to play for and handling pressure situations is going to be the key...”

Younis failed both versus Sri Lanka and New Zealand, but reasoned it may have had something to do with his “concentration getting divided.” That’s because of the captaincy and the crisis (doping scandal) he encountered only a few hours before the start of Pakistan’s campaign.

“Even Ricky Ponting didn’t get many runs in the first two matches... Performing at the same (high) level is mushkil with so much cricket being played... But, then, each day is a new one and I wake up smiling... Irrespective of what has happened in the last outing, I remain positive... That’s my nature,” Younis maintained.

According to sources, the Pakistanis are contemplating two changes — dropping Shahid Afridi and Rana Naved, and calling up (Javed Miandad’s nephew) Faisal Iqbal and allrounder Yasir Arafat. The South Africans, one learns, could drop left-arm spinner Robin Peterson and include allrounder Charl Langeveldt. The latter bowls medium-pace.

Senior pro Kallis, who hurt his right ankle in the last match, is “absolutely fit.”

The Pakistanis, meanwhile, are unhappy with the low floodlights at the PCA Stadium. “It’s a problem,” is how Younis put it. The dew, though, has to be the much bigger worry. “It’s a factor, definitely... Whoever adapts better will win,” Smith observed, adding he wouldn’t mind losing the toss.

Younis is probably harbouring the same wish. On Wednesday, he chose to field, but New Zealand didn’t slip on the dew. Instead, they marched into the semi-finals.

TEAMS

Pakistan (from): Mohammed Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Younis Khan, Mohammed Yousuf, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Rana Naved, Umar Gul, Iftikhar Anjum, Faisal Iqbal, Yasir Arafat.

South Africa (likely): Graeme Smith, Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher, Justin Kemp, Shaun Pollock, Charl Langeveldt/Robin Peterson, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini.

Umpires: Billy Bowden, Mark Benson. TV: Steve Bucknor.

Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle.

Match starts: 2.30 pm. The second session will start at 6.30 pm, as the break has been cut by 15 minutes.