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Sri Lanka's one-day international captain Marvan Atapattu said that the present climatic conditions in the country would certainly surprise the tourists who arrived on Saturday for a six-week ten-match tour of the country.

Sri Lanka are experiencing a drought in most parts of the country due to the present hot weather conditions which has seen temperatures soar between 30 and 35 degrees Celsius.

What makes it more uncomfortable than the heat is the high humidity that drains the body of sweat and causes cramps if proper steps are not taken to overcome it.

"The heat and the slow pitches are a factor that would be a matter of concern to a certain extent. The Aussies are a bunch of good skilled guys with experience, but I am sure the climatic conditions at this time of the year is sure going to surprise them," said Atapattu, who will be leading Sri Lanka in the five one-day internationals starting at Dambulla on Friday.

Atapattu said that his team would draw great inspiration from playing in home conditions in front of their own supporters.

"We know our cricket, the way we play the one day game and our approach to it under these conditions and the types of wickets. It is our greatest strength," said Atapattu looking ahead at the series.

"There is no greater challenge than taking on Australia who are the world champions. More than being confident we should take this series as a challenge. Australia has become world champions in two successive occasions. For the type of cricket they have been playing in the recent past they deserve that title. We should try and give them a hard time," he said.

Atapattu and Co have just completed a six-week long 11-match first-class provincial tournament which gave the national players enough cricket to prepare for the Australian series after the tour here by England ended a few days before Christmas.

"Although it will be a different type of cricket we will be playing against the Aussies, everyone is keen to go out and prove himself against them," he said.

"After all Australia are the world champions. There is no greater challenge than playing against them. Everyone is very keen to get on the park. Playing on home soil and in front of our own crowd will be our greatest strength."

The 33-year-old right-hander is the fourth highest run-getter in one-day internationals for his country after Aravinda de Silva (9284 runs), Sanath Jayasuriya (9172) and Arjuna Ranatunga (7456).

In 201 matches he has scored 6567 runs and averages 37.74 which is by far the best average achieved by any of his countrymen in overs-limit cricket.

Comparing the completed series against England and the one ahead against Australia, Atapattu said: "Playing at home everybody expected us to win against England.

It is less pressure on us to win against Australia because everybody knows how good they are. It is not that we are not going to try beat them," said Atapattu.

Sri Lanka won the one-day series against England 1-0 after two of the three matches was washed out by rain.

"Australia is more attacking than any other team in the world today. That has been their success story. In their side I don't think many batsmen or bowlers go out of form at any given time. They have good replacements.

Australian cricketers Jason Gillespie (L) and Brett Lee (rear) prepare to tackle an unidentified teammate as they play rugby during a team practice session at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday. The Australian cricket team led by Ricky Ponting arrived in Colombo on Saturday for a six-week tour. Pic AFP

Although they won't carry (Shane) Warne and (Glenn) McGrath with them they are a bunch of skilled guys," said Atapattu, who already has two successive one-day series victories under his belt against West Indies and England.

"Beating Australia in today's context is the ultimate in cricket because they are the world champions. If we can achieve it on our soil it will go down as a great achievement," he said. Atapattu said the pressure to win will be on Australia more than his team because as the world champions they had a lot to gain.

"It is not that we are going to lose all five matches to them but we can try out things with them to match them at their own game," he said.

The last occasion Australia played Sri Lanka here two years ago, they lost badly by seven wickets with spin destroying their strong batting line up. Australia was dismissed for 162 in 48.4 overs at the R. Premadasa Stadium and Sri Lanka romped home easily with 10 overs to spare in the ICC Champions trophy semi-final.

"Whether we like it or not we get turning tracks during this time of the year. I don't think any Sri Lankan will forget that match," said Atapattu who contributed a half-century.

Sri Lanka are more or less likely to stick to the same 15 players who won against England, but Atapattu said that if all went well and they had a winning lead in the series, the selectors will in all probability introduce some youngsters with the Zimbabwe tour in mind. Sri Lanka is due to make a five-match one-day international and two Test tour of Zimbabwe in April.

"It has been the thinking of the selectors to make such changes that is why they are naming two separate 15-member squads for the first four matches of the Australian series," said Atapattu.

In their preparations to receive the Australians, Atapattu said the team had not undergone any major changes at practice except for the fact that the management had brought in some new thoughts on motivation.

"We have not done very much skill wise. We have gone through the usual routine video sessions and stuff like that," he said.