KANDY. Sept 8 (Internet report): Sri Lanka is under no illusions about the magnitude of the cnal

laves ui me nisi viivacl Test against Australia starting here tomorrow, according to coach Dav Whatmore.

Yet to defeat Australia in 10 Pest matches. Whatmore said the three-Test series against world cricket's most powerful outfit was the Sri Lankans' greatest challenge.

Whatmore. a former Victorian and Australian batsman, has returned to the position of Sri Lankan coach after guiding the country to World Cup success in 1996.

"There is no other team that stirs the hairs the on the back of your neck more than the Australians." Whatmore said today.

"Mainly because they are a very good side and it’s always a very good measuring stick to know where you are. "It’s a situation where the Australian cricket team has been able to produce more than 11 players at any one time and they are all very good, they are all very strong mentally and

strong physically.

"Within that group you have some terrific match winners which makes them a very, very potent group of players - when their confidence is up it's very difficult to stop them. 'The image they create is always one of a very aggressive, strong, physical type of game and it's not easy to beat teams like that.

"Without strength in your mind and body you are unable to match it with most teams, let alone the Australians."

Whatmore said Sri Lanka's triumph over Australia in the final of the one-day tri-series had boosted the team's confidence of causing a boil-over in the Test series.

"Having won the one-day series there is no doubt it gives you confidence." he said.

"I know it's a different game and different venue and in different conditions.

"But it still gives you the confidence to know that you can beat a team’ that is world renowned for its strength and that, basically, is a terrific thing.”

Whatmore was unfazed at the lack of recent cricket for veteran batsmen Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravlnda de Silva entering the first Test.

Both were dropped from Sri Lanka's one day team after the World Cup and have not played first-class cricket since before the Cup in England last May and June.

"Arjuna's mental approach could be compared to (Australian captain) Steve Waugh's." Whatmore said. To me they are both made of steel. They are huge asset to their respective teams and to have experience in Test matches is a very handy thing to have when you play them."