Despite their 57-run shock loss to Kenya, Sri Lanka will receive the utmost respect from the West Indies in their vital World Cup clash today.

Being beaten by one of the tournament's minnows will likely spur Sri Lanka to strive for renewed excellence in the do-or-die Group B match, says West Indies coach Roger Harper. Therefore, his team - who must win to keep their Cup quest alive - will be ready for whatever comes.

"The only thing we can take from that (the loss to Kenya) is the fact that they will not be fully confident but, having lost, we know Sri Lanka will be very determined to come out and play good cricket.

"We cannot afford to be complacent. We have to expect them to play at their best and be ready for that," said Harper, speaking to The Royal Gazette from Cape Town, South Africa, yesterday.

"Tomorrow's (today) game is crucial for us. It is imperative we win our two remaining games and ensure we qualify for the Super Six stage. The team is very aware of this and everyone is excited about the prospect of meeting Sri Lanka tomorrow (today) and really looking forward to it."

The West Indies will be hoping that winning strikes twice at the same venue as they will be playing at Newlands, the ground on which they edged South Africa by three runs in the tournament opener.

"In all limited-overs games it's about how well you play throughout 100 overs. We know Sri Lanka are very aggressive at the start of their batting and I think the start of both innings will be key.

"When we bat, the start will be very important and when we bowl the first ten overs will be key also," noted Harper.

Asked if he was concerned about the Caribbean team's bowling, given the way they were roughed up by Canadian John Davison in his 67-ball century on Sunday, the coach described the World Cup's fastest hundred as "a one-off thing" and expressed confidence in the likes of Mervyn Dillon, Vasbert Drakes and Pedro Collins.

"John Davison just had one of those days where every shot he tried came off. His edges went to the boundary. The balls he hit in the middle went to the boundary as well.

"At the same time, we didn't respond as well as we needed to but it's nothing to panic about . . . I am very confident our bowlers will deliver."

He is equally supportive of West Indies openers, the Jamaican duo of Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds. The pair have not got into stride in the tournament yet though Hinds' 64 (50 off 24 balls) in the victory over Canada was heartening.

"It's something we've talked about. We appreciate how important it is for them to be clicking. They have not performed as well as they are capable of doing so far in the tournament but they have served us very well in the past - especially in that series in India - and we're confident they will come good."

As for the raging debate on whether teams bowling last in day-night fixtures - such as today's match - have an unfair advantage, Harper acknowledged the concern but preferred not to dwell on something he cannot alter.

"It seems the conditions change at night but there's nothing we can do about that. So, there's no point worrying about it.

"We just have to be ready for every eventuality and prepare ourselves mentally to play good cricket - whatever the situation, whatever the conditions."

Looking ahead to their match against Kenya next Tuesday - possibly another pivotal clash now Kenya have a genuine chance of reaching the Super Sixes - he said the Carl Hooper-led squad will approach that just as seriously.

"Kenya are a very competitive team. We feel if we play well then we should win but it doesn't mean you're going to take them for granted," he said of the side that upset the West Indies in the 1996 World Cup.

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