De Villiers getting ready for SA's final steps

AB de Villiers is expected to return to captain a South African side anxious to begin the competition proper in their final World Cup warm-up match against New Zealand on Wednesday. De Villiers was left out of the first practice match against Sri Lanka as a precaution after experiencing tightness in the hip. Even though he did not attend optional training on Tuesday, a team spokesperson said he would be "good to go" as South Africa complete their final preparations in pursuit of a major tournament trophy.

"It's taking so long. The build-up to the World Cup especially has almost been like a year. We are ready, we've played a lot of cricket and we just want to get going," Faf du Plessis said.

South Africa's itchy feet are understandable. Of the 14 teams at this World Cup, South Africa have had the longest and most intricately planned lead-up period which they made public last July, on their tour to Sri Lanka. That was earmarked as a new starting point for a team that had previously been concerned with retaining the Test mace and getting through a transition period following the retirement of their decade-long captain Graeme Smith.

But it was a false dawn because although South Africa won the three-match series in Sri Lanka, they lost Jacques Kallis. The allrounder held out hope of playing at the World Cup, to capture the one accolade missing on his CV, but had the leanest tour of his career with the bat and was unable to bowl which forced him to call time on his 17-year international career.

South Africa's proper planning only began the next month in Zimbabwe, where they installed Faf du Plessis in Kallis' batting position and made Ryan McLaren the new first-choice two-in-one player. The new combinations worked and South Africa blanked their neighbours and beat Australia in a triangular series, showing their seriousness about contending for the title.

The next stage was visiting the two countries the World Cup would take place in to familiarise themselves with conditions. Although things did not go according to plan - South Africa were without JP Duminy, who picked up a knee injury and lost 1-4 to Australia - they returned content with their recce, so much so that by the time the home summer came, they needed a break from 50-over cricket.

"We are playing so much ODI cricket, it's just become a bloody pain in the ass," Dale Steyn said on December 15, before South Africa's first Test against West Indies. Two days later, South Africa's plans were thrown awry even further when Quinton de Kock tore ankle ligaments which left him in danger of missing the initial matches of the World Cup. The wicketkeeper made a remarkable recovery and returned a month before time to play in the final ODI against West Indies.

What South Africa learnt along the way was that as important as preparation is, the unpredictability of sport can spoil even the best-laid plans. There is no doubting they are ready, perhaps even readier than anyone else, but there is also no doubt the most important part of getting ready took place in the last 10 overs of their game against Sri Lanka and will take place in the warm-up against New Zealand.

Against Sri Lanka they were tested in a situation they are known to be weak in - collapsing during a chase - and passed it. De Kock also spent valuable time in the middle, which was much-needed after his layoff. "Sri Lanka was really good for us. We wanted to be in a situation where we could take something out of a warm-up game - intensity-wise you can't because it's not a one-day international - but it was nice to see Dilshan playing well, getting a hundred and putting our bowlers under pressure and then Hashim and Quinny getting a really good opening stand," du Plessis said.

"It was nice to see Quinny especially after he had an injury coming back and playing the way he did. We were presented with an opportunity to get across the line in a reasonably difficult situation and we did it."

New Zealand will present a chance to face the team which booted them out of the last World Cup, on the eve of another tournament. South Africa beat New Zealand 2-0 late last year but one-off games have different demands and South Africa have to prove they can meet those. It will also be a chance for de Villiers to judge whether he is fully fit, because South Africa will need that.

Most importantly, it marks the end of a journey that has lasted seven months and 24 ODIs and has covered every base and the start of another. Everything South Africa have done over that time was about getting to this point. Everything they do after will be what really counts.