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Sri Lanka's new Test captain Hashan Tillakaratne said that if his team played to its potential they had a good chance of beating New Zealand in the two-Test series starting at the Sara Stadium today.

"Even without three of their key players (McMillan, Cairns and Harris) New Zealand are a good side," said Tillakaratne on the eve of what would be his second Test as captain. "They have bowlers like (Shane) Bond and (Daniel) Vettori and (Stephen) Fleming is one of the best captains in the circuit. We cannot just underestimate them. I am sure playing in our conditions gives us the edge and if we play to our potential I am sure we can give them a good run," he said.

Tillakaratne said that taking on the Test captaincy was a challenge and that he was looking forward to the game.

"We are very confident and everyone is looking forward to tomorrow's game. We have a good side. Kalu (Kaluwitharana) is back, so is Upul (Chandana) and (Kumar) Dharmasena," said Tillakaratne.

"Our middle order is a little bit uncertain and we have been working hard at it. We need to find a supporting spinner for Murali (Muralitharan) and improve our fielding.

Loku (Lokuarachchi) has got a good chance of playing tomorrow.

He has a lot of cricket in him," he said. Tillakaratne said that fast bowler Bond was a threat to all the batsmen in the world and that they had a game plan against him. The 35-year-old left-hander led his country previously in one Test against Pakistan in the Asian Test championships at Lahore four years ago when Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda de Silva were both injured. - [S.T.]

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