As South Africa, already handily placed on the log with a victory over Rashid Latif's tourists, go into the game with a ``best team'' scenario and Shaun Pollock's possible selection ahead of Lance Klusener, Pakistan would like to establish some superiority in this Standard Bank tournament.
In Kimberley against Sri Lanka on Tuesday they gave the impression of going through the motions: their bowling and fielding was decidedly low key. After all, who are Sri Lanka these days? Their batting is erratic and bowling, as Arjuna Ranatunga admitted on Thursday night, inconsistent.
But a target of 297 is challenging enough and up stepped Inzamam to lay the ghost of a threatening defeat with one of the rare great limited-overs innings of the decade: an undefeated 116 off only 122 balls.
Although he was undone by poor umpiring judgement in Paarl, Inzamam seems to have rediscovered his batting skills and talent a new taste for a challenge. Just as much as Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram have found theirs.
Buffalo Park is the ground where a little more than five years ago Wasim Akram destroyed South Africa during the Total Triangular series: a one-man demolition job now acknowleged as a class bowling performance at ODI level as the hosts, because of a rain reduced target were on course to win the game. Seven wickets tumbled for a paltry 11 runs as Pakistan won by nine runs and Akram's five for 16 in 6.1 overs was an inspired bit of swing from the captain.
Not surprisingly in Paarl after Thursday night's victory of 110 runs Latif admitted Pakistan needed to beat South Africa if they were regain the psychological high ground. Especially after the drubbing at Kingsmead where they had, before the opening match of the series, not lost a match to South Africa.
South Africa's need to recall Pollock is no doubt based on the theory that Buffalo Park, with its low, slow surface is not the ideal venue to retain a winning streak after a week's break. And there is a chance the batting order may change as well: Herschelle Gibbs in for Jonty Rhodes is one suggetion.
This may, of course, be delayed until the game against Sri lanka on Monday at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth. The Lankans need to win this game to keep their series life support system functioning until Benoni where they meet Pakistan again.
A South African victory at St George's Park, however, is not going to be well received in Colombo and end the World Cup champions bid for a slice of South African glory. Conversely, a fourth victory could see South Africa just one match away from qualifying for the final.
But here at Buffalo Park, success has come in a mixed bag for South Africa since this quaint holiday resort facing the Indian Ocean was put on the ODI map. We had some pretty awful types belching and boozing away when the Aussies were here. Hopefully they have learnt some manners in the intervening months.
South Africa won easily enough by six wicket with local lad Daryll Cullinan winning man of the match an accolade for the effort.
Perhaps it is time for South Africa's theorists to test the three fast swing bowlers against Pakistan with Pollock perhaps coming on at first change instead of opening. Or whatever ...
The batting has so far done a fair act of putting runs on the board. Only there is a need for consistency in the top order. Cronje is no doubt pondering over this little chink in their run-making armoury: someone must get a big score to put a total of 240 or more on the board. In these low and slow conditions such a total could amount to a match-winning score.
It's a crucial and critical weekend for South Africa and Cronje is all too aware how important to maintain the momentum it is.