JOHANNESBURG (South Africa) - White water rafting and absailing a cliff in the rugged Cape should be more in keeping with a fitness programme designed for mountaineers who hope to conquer Everest than Hansie Cronje's World Cup squad.

Yet, barely hours after they had gathered in the Swellndam area, Cronje and his teammates began the first steps of a tough pre-tournament session which could lead to the conquest of the global limited-overs version and which starts in England in 17 days time.

It could lead to a few players losing a finger nail or two, a bit of knuckle or elbow skin, but it is all part of the day's work: a toughen up process which is a much about creating stronger minds as it is about fun and bonding.

No wonder retiring coach Bob Woolmer declined a three weeks ago to say too much about the pre-tournament preparation. His understatement of ``a little out of the ordinary'' is an over-simplification of the team's build up.

Joined by Alan Dawson, the Western Province all-rounder included on Friday for convicted rapist Makhaya Ntini, the squad knew they had a lot of hard work ahead of them over the weekend before playing in Gary Kirsten's benefit match at Newlands tomorrow.

A tough competitor who once bowled two hours in temperatures nudging the upper 30s and picked up six wickets in unforgiving conditions in Sri Lanka, Dawson is the sort of blood and guts player South Africa need for a World Cup.

As Woolmer has pointed out a ``toughening up process'' is important for protracted limited-overs tournament such as the World Cup where winning the first three matches is a priority.

It is a tough tournament and the players know they need to physically and mentally fit for any eventuality, so white water rafting may night be such a daft idea in the light of who they are up against in those first three games.

India at Hove on May 15 is followed by the game against defending champions Sri Lanka at Northampton four days later and England at The Oval on May 20.

``If we win those first three games we will have a big foot in the door of the Super Six group,'' Cronje said. ``It is no going to be easy. You have to ignore pre-tournament form. It is how you play and the way you allow your opposition to play which is the governing factor.''

Both Cronje and Woolmer indicated they will also pay close attention to the warm up games of the other teams in their group. Sri Lanka are already on their way to England, India leave within the next 72 hours ``to acclimatise'' as will Pakistan on Wednesday.

With success will also come the financial rewards. Just how much though is a bargaining point which the team's negotiator, former Test wicketkeeper, Dave Richardson, hopes to sort out. A few figures have been mentioned but nothing solid or definite.

After the white wash of the West Indies the side was given R750 000, or about UK Pounds 6 000 each at current currency rates. A World Cup success could see Richardson asking for double that amount.

For Cronje winning the World Cup would be a parting gift to Woolmer, the retiring coach and Dr Ali Bacher, managing director of the United Cricket Board, who steps down about June next year to take over the running of the 2003 World Cup followed by a job within the International Cricket Board.