Perth, January 30:

South Africa and Sri Lanka are bracing for a make-or-break encounter when they clash in Tuesday’s limited overs match in Perth with Australia already sewing-up one of the two finals berths.

South African skipper Graeme Smith said on Monday that his team were treating the match as their most important of the tour. “It’s important for us to make sure that tomorrow’s game is the most important game on the tour for us and if we get through that one then we move on to Friday and we will (also) make sure that one counts,” he said.

“With the young team, it’s important not to look too far ahead. It’s (important) to concentrate game by game and improve on everything game by game.”

Australia beat Sri Lanka by six wickets at the WACA Ground on Sunday, the same venue as Tuesday’s match, sealing a place in the best-of-three finals. South Africa, on eight points, are one point adrift of Sri Lanka but are in the box seat, having played two fewer games. Including Tuesday’s encounter, they have four left to play while Sri Lanka have two and either team could qualify.

“The sums just mean that we need to win,” Smith said. “Obviously Australia’s win last night has left them in a pretty solid position in the competition. “We’ve got three or four games this week, so we want to make them count.” Batsman Justin Kemp was injured after being hit above the knee during Monday’s practice but Smith said it was not a major concern. “Team management says it doesn’t look serious and we’ll see how he responds tonight,” he said.