S Africa will be confident and aggressive, says Smith

CAPE TOWN, Mar 15 (Reuters) Inspired by their performances in the one-day series, South Africa will be confident and aggressive in the first test against Australia, captain Graeme Smith said today.

Smith said his side had improved beyond recognition since they lost the test series 2-0 in Australia earlier this season.

''We played some good cricket without being able to close moments off, and one of the reasons you do that is perhaps because at those key moments you don't have enough belief,'' Smith told a news conference in Cape Town.

''From where we are now to where we were then is two different worlds.

''The guys are in a good space, we're playing well and we will take a lot more confidence into tomorrow.

''I think you'll see a relaxed outfit on the field. We will be aggressive in our mindset, and it might have to be tight but we are looking for 20 wickets in the test match.'' The presence of Shane Warne in the Australian squad is one of the key differences between the test and one-day series, which South Africa won 3-2 in a thrilling match on Sunday.

South Africa won by one wicket with a ball to spare after chasing down Australia's world record total of 434 for four.

Smith said Warne, test cricket's leading wicket-taker with 659 scalps, would be vital to Australia's cause.

''Shane is a world class performer and you do need to give him a lot of respect for the way he performs,'' Smith said.

''I thought we played him reasonably well in Australia, and he's going to be an important cog in their line-up throughout the series.

''So how we play him is going to be crucial.'' Smith said a decision had yet to be made about the fitness of all-rounder Shaun Pollock who has been hit by buttock spasms.

''If Pollock doesn't play, Andrew Hall has been bowling superbly in the one-day series,'' Smith said.

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