JOHANNESBURG: Australia captain Ricky Ponting said Wednesday his team needed to build on their recent one-day successes in a bid to defend the title at the Champions Trophy tournament here.

Australia came back strongly after losing the Ashes, thrashing England 6-1 in a recent one-day series.

"We've enjoyed the last couple of weeks winning. The level of cricket through the last few one-dayers was particularly good, so it's a matter of building on that. We got to keep improving every day," said Ponting.

Australia open their campaign against the West Indies here on Saturday. In-form India and unpredictable Pakistan are the other sides in the group. The top two teams make it to the semi-finals.

"We've been playing a lot of cricket and a lot of good one-day cricket. We're a bit weary this morning, having travelled overnight," said Ponting.

"As far as getting into one-day mode, we're probably in as good a shape as any team. We'll make sure we do everything right with our preparations over the next two days. We're in a pretty good shape at the moment."

The West Indies are without Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivanaraine Chanderpaul and Dwayne Bravo following a contract row between the players and their cricket board, but Ponting said they were not taking them lightly.

"Although it's not their full-strength side they've still got the capability of being dangerous as all West Indies sides have because of their natural way of playing," said the Australian captain.

"They play a pretty attacking style of cricket and have flamboyant players. With the one-day game being the way it is, we have to make sure we give them the respect they deserve."

Ponting was all praise for young players Callum Ferguson and Tim Paine, who played major roles in their team's one-day series victory in England.

"They were some of our better performing players through the England series. Paine got a chance after Brad Haddin broke a finger and he made his first hundred. He is an exciting wicketkeeper-batsman," said Ponting.

"Ferguson has not put a foot wrong the whole time he has been in Australia side. He is very steady through our middle order. It's great to see Cameron White get the man-of-the-series award in England.

"They've all started to get more international exposure which you need coming into a tournament like this. If experienced guys do well here, you'll see us go a long way."

The Australian captain conceded that the tournament, involving the top eight sides, would be tough and his team needed to prepare well.

"It is going to be a very tight tournament, no doubt. Whoever executes things better on the day wins," said Ponting.

"We've had one eye on the tournament for the last couple of weeks, getting things right to play some great cricket here. This is certainly not just another tournament for us. This is the second-biggest tournament.

"We've done everything in our power to be in as good a shape as we can be for this tournament."