Johannesburg, Sept. 23: All of a sudden, from being one of the two top tournament favourites for the 2009 Champions Trophy, South Africa are staring at the prospect of early elimination.

Having lost to Sri Lanka by the Duckworth/Lewis method at Centurion on Tuesday, Graeme Smith goes into Thursday’s game against New Zealand knowing his side cannot afford to lose. The Kiwis will be playing their first match of the tournament but will take the field after a comfortable win over the Indians in a practice game at Potchefstroom under the belt, and key personnel in form.

More importantly, unlike the undercooked Proteas, New Zealand are here after their punishing tour of Sri Lanka and are at least more battle-ready than their Group B opponents.

Admitted Smith at Centurion on Tuesday, "It’s a must-win game but from a captain’s perspective, you have just got to look at the team and you have got to find a way to improve from today.

"That’s our challenge. And if we do that, then we give ourselves the best chance of performing well on Thursday.

"It is a very quick turnaround and we have got to make tomorrow count. We have got some work to do, yes, but we have trained really hard in the net sessions.

"We had two training camps as well. It is all about just mentally making sure we arrive on Thursday ready to play our game and make sure we get into our work.

"I think this tournament is pressure from the word go, you have to win your games. We want to improve and that’s the challenge."

Daniel Vettori’s one major worry is the form of potentially destructive opener Brendon McCullum, who has had an extended run of poor form. While the likes of Jesse Ryder and Martin Guptill have got runs in plenty recently including the Kiwis’ two practice games, McCullum totalled just 33.

In all ODIs New Zealand have played this year — 16 — the wicketkeeper-batsman averages under 25, that dipped into single figures at the Compaq Cup in Colombo earlier this month.