Whatmore watches on with Jayasuriya (Getty Images)

By Myles Hodgson, PA Sport Cricket Correspondent, Port Elizabeth

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Sri Lanka will attempt to end Australia's record-breaking run of success believing they are not under the same pressure to perform as the world champions in Tuesday's World Cup semi-final.

Like the other three teams in the last four, Sri Lanka have had to battle to reach this stage while watching Australia embark on 15 successive one-day international victories, nine of which were in this tournament.

They include comprehensive triumphs over Sri Lanka and India, there two most serious rivals for the trophy, to establish them as overwhelming favourites to retain the World Cup they lifted at Lord's four years ago.

That almost invincible record has helped Sri Lanka, the last team to beat Australia in a one-day international at Sydney on January 9 and the side who overcame the world champions in the ICC Trophy semi-final last October, prepare for the match free of expectation.

It is a refreshing experience for a team from the cricket-loving sub-continent, but one that experienced coach Dav Whatmore, who masterminded Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup final victory over Australia, is keen to use to their advantage.

"They're the team under pressure because they've done so well in this competition," stressed Whatmore.

"They've blown away teams and now they're in a situation where if you lose one you're gone whereas the Sri Lankan team have had to fight a little bit harder to get here."

Whether that will matter on another slow and low St George's Park surface is another matter entirely with Whatmore struggling to disguise his admiration for the present Australian line-up and their performances in this competition.

"If Australia continue their unbeaten run then you've got to admire them," he enthused.

"There may be people who don't like that and say there's a huge void between them and other teams, but things go around in cycles I think and at the moment they are on top of their game.

"India are getting towards the top of their game and Sri Lanka were on top and played some really good cricket, but we're building up a bit now. There will be phases like that but at the moment you have to admire them."

For all their notable successes over Australia, however, the world champions can claim the psychological advantage of an emphatic 96-run success during the Super Six stage at Centurion which is all too graphic a memory for Whatmore.

"It was an incredible match for them," said Whatmore. "It was something very similar to what we did to South Africa. There seemed to be a never-ending flow of singles and then a four to the boundary, easily seven or eight runs an over with a minimum of risk and a maximum result.

"It was a fantastic effort but those sort of performances can't be repeated every game. On that particular day it was an incredible performance by their batsmen and they could have got even more runs than what they did."

Whatmore added: "These boys who play for Sri Lanka are always capable - I've seen them come up with some terrific performances and sometimes when you least expect it.

"Semi-finals are probably the hardest games to play in and knowing we can beat the opposition doesn't really faze us too much.

"They've been playing some breathtaking cricket, they are clearly the form side of the competition and it will require a very tough performance from us."