Leeds (England) - Opening shots of the psychological battle for World Cup semi-final supremacy over Australia have been fired by South Africa's captain Hansie Cronje shortly before the side departed for Birmingham yesterday.

As the bookies made both countries 11-5 second favourites behind Pakistan, who are 13-8 favourites this is likely to change after the two semi-finals. New Zealand are 15-2 fourth favourites after their win over India at Trent Bridge.

South Africa and Australia now have three days to prepare for a match which is only one game away from competing in the final and although South Africa and Australia gave their players the day off as the moved from their Yorkshire camps to Birmingham, Cronje gave the impression that Jacques Kallis would be fit for the outing at Edgbaston on Thursday.

Kallis injury left South Africa vulnerable in two areas, notably that of a front line bowler and feels that the 10 percent team improvement would be enough to help the side win a place in the final at Lord's on Sunday. Cronje was quick to bounce back with the view that Kallis fitness was of paramount importance but would be eased back into a training schedule.

'I am expected us to improve our game by 10 percent when we play the semi-final game,' Cronje said. 'Jacques is a fine player and we missed him as they (Australia) worked on our weakness which was a fifth bowler. 'Sure we have given the Australians some momentum and we can see where they are improving, but I feel we have the answers,' he said.

South Africa are to have an afternoon training session at Edgbaston today and a tougher one tomorrow morning at which Kallis' fitness is to be monitored. Australia's management have been a little coy on their plans apart from confirmation of training and net sessions have been planned today and tomorrow.

On another front South Africa's management have yet comment on allegations that wicketkeeper Mark Boucher was 'marked for special treatment' by a section of spectators after the game at Headingley on Sunday.

Boucher was nursing a bruised right side yesterday morning after being tackled by spectators charging onto the field seconds after Steve Waugh hit the winning runs for Australia in the Super Six series match. It left a serious question mark against security efforts to protect players from marauding yobbos among the spectators who have been targeting players for 'special treatment'.

Waugh and the Indian captain, Mohammad Azharuddin have already complained to World Cup organisers about player protection after matches from the riot element in the crowd who are spoiling for an excuse to steal anything they can lay their hands on after he game and see players as 'fair targets' as it enables them to pinch caps, equipment and other forms of 'booty' to sell to the highest bidder.

Although the excuse has been put forward that Boucher fell on the ball and the South African management are said to be aware of the incident, but Goolam Rajah, the team's manager was not available for comment and as far as is known no official complaint has been filed with the World Cup organising committee.