KwaZulu-Natal's prospects of Standard Bank Cup success this summer have been enhanced by the likelihood that Lance Klusener will be fit to play in the first leg semi-final against Eastern Province at St George's Park on Wednesday.

Klusener, perhaps the most devastating hitter in world cricket, underwent an arthroscopy on his right knee after damaging cartilage during the New Year Test match against Sri Lanka.

The operation was successful and Klusener is a probable starter for the semni-finals, if only as a batsman.

"It's getting a little better every day and hopefully it will be strong enough to play next week," said Klusener.

As well as Klusener, Natal may also be able to call on South African captain Shaun Pollock and their other national player Jonty Rhodes for the semi-finals.

Pollock has a Test captains' meeting in Melbourne on Monday but is expected to back from Australia in time for Wednesday's game while Natal are hopeful that Rhodes will have recovered sufficiently from a fracture finger to take his place in the side.

Rhodes, however, is not entirely sure that he will be ready to play on Wednesday. He said that he had only had one hit recently and had felt uncomfortable. He is also, if truth be told, a little uneasy about declaring himself fit and taking someone else's place in the side.

At the same time, though, his responsibility is to declare himself fit or otherwise and leave the choice of the team to the Natal selectors.

In the other semi-final, Border and Northerns Titans will play a third leg in East London on Sunday after Northerns squared the tie 1-1 with a seven-wicket victory over Border at Buffalo Park on Friday night.

© CricInfo