Kumar Sangakkara v AB de Villiers
It's often asked if there is anything AB de Villiers cannot do. Kumar Sangakkara may have the answer. His four centuries in succession are more than anyone else has collected, and would surpass de Villiers' if this was a comparison of accumulation. But de Villiers is the record-holder for the fastest fifty, hundred and 150 in international cricket and has a range of strokes which have yet to be given names. Between them, they occupy the top two positions on the ODI batting rankings and are expected to provide each other's attack with plenty to ponder. Both sides have already stressed the importance of dismissing these two cheaply but while Mathews described their meeting as a clash of "two legends of the modern game", de Villiers played it down: "To be very honest with you, and I hope you don't take it in the wrong way, I couldn't care less about him or me. I just want to win the game."
Dale Steyn v Dushmantha Chameera
"We just want him to go there and bowl fast."
Angelo Mathews said that about Sri Lanka's speedy sensation Dushmantha Chameera. The same has been said of Dale Steyn for almost a decade. Although South Africa's spearhead has not sliced through any line-up with his usual sharpness yet, his coach Russell Domingo has been impressed with how he has progressively upped his pace and intensity and expects him to be at his best when it matters most. Chameera will have none of the same pressures. He is only two internationals into his career, but has pushed the speedgun to 147kph, which Mathews called "extraordinary for a Sri Lankan". Although at almost opposite ends of expectation, the two quicks should provide some excitement, especially for the batsmen.
Tahir v Sri Lanka spinners
Spin has historically been the area Sri Lanka would bank on having an edge against South Africa, but if Rangana Herath does not play, - he is still in serious doubt for Wednesday - Tahir has the form and the record to suggest he will outperform the Sri Lanka slow bowlers. He took spin's only five-wicket haul of the tournament against West Indies at the SCG three weeks ago, and has 11 wickets at 23.36 in the tournament. What may count against him is the number of left-handers in Sri Lanka's batting order - there are four in the top seven - but Sri Lanka's legspinner Seekkuge Prasanna may also encounter the same problem against South Africa's top order. Neither Prasanna nor Sachithra Senanayake have been particularly impressive so far in their limited opportunities in this tournament, so South Africa's middle order will aim to rattle them in the last 20 overs.
Lahiru Thirimanne v Quinton de Kock
Quinton de Kock has the better record and reputation of the two young opening batsmen, but Lahiru Thirimanne has the World Cup runs. De Kock's last innings against Sri Lanka, though, was an outstanding one. He hit 128 from 127 balls to set up a total of 339 in Hambantota, as he overcame an apparent weakness against the bowling of Lasith Malinga. Thirimanne has had a couple of quiet matches after his 139 not out against England. His Achilles heel appears to be the full ball pushed across him by a right-arm quick. Several times in the series, he has edged to the slips, but to his credit, has gone on to make a sizable contribution after a let off. Thirimanne also has the more proven big-match temperament. He hit a hundred in last year's Asia Cup final, and top-scored in the World T20 semi-final against West Indies.
David Miller v Angelo Mathews
Sri Lanka perhaps edge the match-up between the middle-order finishers. While Miller is the more dynamic batsman, with his strike-rate above 100, Mathews has more batting pedigree, averaging over 40, with a history of playing clutch innings in Sri Lanka's hours of need. Miller has hurt Sri Lanka before, however. His 85 not out off 72 balls set up a South Africa victory in Pallekele in 2013, and he's also made a few more runs than Mathews in this tournament. However, Mathews appeared to have returned to destructive form as he hit Sri Lanka's fastest-ever World Cup fifty against Scotland last week, reaching the milestone with a fourth consecutive six, off the 20th delivery he played.