India might struggle to put 11 players on the park even as they look for revenge when they take on South Africa in the first one-day international of the three-match Future Cup series in Belfast on Tuesday.
After Mahendra Singh Dhoni pulled out of India's opening game due to high fever, players like Sachin Tendulkar, Rudra Pratap Singh, Piyush Chawla, Robin Uthappa, Ajit Agarkar and Ramesh Powar are also a bit under the weather.
The players, hit hard by the sudden change in climatic conditions, are suffering from cold and viral fever.
But India, who were outclassed 4-0 in the five-match one-day series on the tour of South Africa last December, are keen to erase the bitter memories by turning tables on the opponents.
Their ambitions may be helped by the fact that the South Africans are without their captain Graeme Smith and all-rounder Shaun Pollock. But the Jacques Kallis-led side still seems to have enough firepower to give the Indians a hard time.
It would not be a surprise if Rahul Dravid's men are still haunted by the nightmare of six months ago. Not only did they struggle to put runs on the board but they could manage to bat the full 50 overs only in the final game at Centurion.
The team, however, has a few problems of their own to sort out since several players have caught cold and viral fever.
Given the fact that the weather here has been dicey, the first two matches had to be curtailed. Likewise, another stop-and-start game on Tuesday cannot be ruled out.
The South Africans pride themselves on the strength of their bowling attack that includes Dale Steyn, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Jacques Kallis, Charles Langeveldt and Andrew Hall.
Their pacers made the Indians hop and dance to their tunes in the one-day series back home and they will again enjoy bowling on seamer-friendly conditions here.
Though Smith will be missing from the top of the order, South Africa have enough experience and depth in their batting with AB de Villiers, Morne van Wyk, Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs, Justin Kemp and Mark Boucher shouldering responsibility.
While their bowling and battling looks well balanced, it's their athleticism in the field that gives South Africa a cutting edge over the Indians.
On their part, the Indians have been bolstered by the return of Sourav Ganguly.
The former India captain, who made a fairytale return to Test match cricket on the tour of South Africa, has since gone from strength to strength, earning a recall even in the shorter version of the game.
Ganguly did not play in the one-day series in South Africa and India will be looking to the experienced southpaw to give them a good start.
Besides, Tendulkar and the 'Bengal Tiger' have been India's most successful opening pair in the one-dayers and can be trusted to handle everything the fiery South African pacers bring to the table.
Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik will have to be at their best if they are to take the attack to the bowlers.
On the bowling front, S Sreesanth will be keen to resume his battle with the South African batsmen.
The Kerala pacer finished as India's most impressive, and successful, bowler on their tour of South Africa and he is too keen to get into the act.
With Ajit Agarkar looking good and Zaheer Khan set to make a return to the playing eleven, R P Singh might be given a break.
After his brilliant spell against Ireland, where he took 3 for 29, young Piyush Chawla will face an acid test against the more formidable South African batting.
On the small ground, he will really have to be on a song to make any impression on the big hitters in the opposition.
The teams (from):
India: Rahul Dravid (captain), Sourav Ganguly, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, Ramesh Powar, Zaheer Khan, S Sreesanth, Rudra Pratap Singh, Ajit Agarkar, Robin Uthappa, Rohit Sharma and Piyush Chawla.
South Africa: Jacques Kallis (captain), A B de Villiers, Morne van Wyk, Herschelle Gibbs, Justin Kemp, Mark Boucher, Andrew Hall, Charl Langeveldt, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn, JP Duminy, Vernon Philander and Thandi Tshabalala.
