Yet that is the feeling among any number of Brits as the second match of the 1998 series approaches with England having already committed themselves while South Africa, who had yesterday (Monday subs) off from a day of net practices, are still mulling over their top-order batting calamities so far this tour.
Among the arguments emerging since the rain-affected draw at Edgbaston eight days ago is the theory to allow Adam Bacher the chance to resume his test career. This comes after Gerhardus Liebenberg battles to find his touch on the slow, wet surfaces of what has been a wet, chilly first four weeks of this tour.
While the Lord's test is always the high point of the summer, unless there is a dramatic turn around in the weather, this particular match could continue from the rained-off final day at Edgbaston. And the long-range forecast is far from promising.
Yet, as the mid-summer solstice beckons, South Africa's need for the recognised batsmen to get runs is becoming a little frantic. Although at Edgbaston not only did South Africa's wayward bowlers waste time; they also lost momentum.
For the match at Lord's, starting on Thursday, coach Bob Woolmer and the skipper, Hansie Cronje, will be hoping for warmer weather and that the bowlers have learnt from the error-riddled performance at Edgbaston where they largely under-pitched the ball. None of which helped Cronje who won the toss and put England in.
And while this may seem the clever comment, Fanie de Villiers would have enjoyed bowling Edgbaston and the six for 23 haul against Pakistan at St George's Park, Port Elizabeth, might have been replaced with a seven wicket spread.
South Africa arrive at Lord's with fond memories of their record 356-run victory under Kepler Wessels in 1994. That particular triumph was overshadowed by Mike Atherton's dust in the pocket scandal which had the tabloids indignantly frothing as they all but ignored how their soccer hooligans were being marched off to yet another night in the cooler after terrorising the good folk of Amsterdam.
The feeling is still that England have won the high ground and South Africa have a lot to make up. Another feeling is that England are now better prepared than 12 months ago and South Africa are still battling with their batting plans.
All of which makes the Bacher/Liebenberg question more pressing with the match now barely 48 hours off. Cronje and Woolmer carefully noted Bacher's performance against Sussex at a soggy Arundel. It was possibly the most important 49 runs he has scored since being dropped from the side in the series against Pakistan.
England's captain, Alec Stewart, in a burst of patriotism, suggests his players are far more aware they can beat South Africa at Lord's and unlike a year ago when, having won the first test at Edgbaston, came unstuck at Lord's as Glenn McGrath mowed them down at headquarters.
After that England limped along, the shadow of the side which had won at Edgbaston.
Yet there is also a feeling within the England camp that as good as Allan Donald can be, Shaun Pollock is better and a bigger danger. And South Africa's more record at Lord's is not too shabby if the 1960 disaster is expunged from the result sheet (and memory). A draw in 1965 was followed by the 1994 victory.
Even England's vice-captain, Nasser Hussain, noted for his sharp, clear thinking becomes edgy when thinking about Lord's. In ``Ashes Summer'' written with Mark Waugh, he feels Lord's ``can be the most annoying venue to be an England player.''