Muralitharan on target for Sri Lanka's World Cup opener

Sri Lanka are cautiously optimistic that star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan will be able to play in their crucial World Cup opener against New Zealand on February 10.

Muralitharan, adjudged CEAT cricketer of the year earlier in the week, pulled a quadriceps muscle in his left thigh during the recent triangular series in Australia.

"Murali is improving slowly but steadily," said Sri Lanka physio Alex Kontouri in Colombo. "Being the World Cup we are being a little bit cautious but I am fairly confident that he will be available for the first game."

Sri Lanka leave for South Africa on Friday night, arriving in Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon and then transferring to their World Cup base in Kimberly where they will play two practice games.

Sri Lanka are keen that the 30-year-old off-spinner, one of only three players to have taken 300 wickets in Tests and ODIs, will have recovered sufficiently to play at least one warm-up game.

"The ideal situation is that he plays in our second practice match on February 6 but if he is not fit for that we will obviously have to look at him going straight into the side against New Zealand," said Kontouri.

Muralitharan, a talismanic figure for the Sri Lankans, is considered crucial to the former world champion's chances of qualifying for the super sixes stage of the competition.

Sri Lanka also have injury concerns over fast bowler Pulasthi Gunaratne, the frontrunner to take the new ball with left-armer Chaminda Vaas during the tournament.

Gunaratne was forced to return early from Australia and has only just resumed bowling again off his full run-up.

"Pulasthi (Gunaratne) is the only real concern with his knee," revealed Kontouri. "He's not quite 100 per cent although he's now bowling full pace. The problem is his agility in the field but I am hopeful that he will be ready in time."

Fast bowler Prabath Nissanka has recovered from a hamstring injury.