South Africa legend Shaun Pollock says A.B. de Villiers could produce "something really special" at the final cricket World Cup match at Manuka Oval on Tuesday, having seen both of the South African captain's destructive innings in the last month.
But he also felt there were Ireland batsmen capable of producing fireworks with the bat, as the two men with the fastest World Cup centuries go head-to-head - Ireland's Kevin O'Brien and de Villiers.
Pollock was on hand when de Villiers scored the fastest one-day international century, against the West Indies in Johannesburg in January, and also there last week when he again plundered the Windies, this time at the SCG – blasting the fastest ODI 150 off just 64 balls.
Now de Villiers will bat on the same ground where West Indies master blaster Chris Gayle smashed 215 off 147 balls seven days ago.
"After he walked off the Sydney Cricket Ground he did an interview and he said, 'I just got lucky', it's much more than that," Pollock told Fairfax Media on Monday.
"I've seen him do it twice ... he can be very destructive if he gets himself in and he's just a quality player.
"There's a good chance you might see more of the same tomorrow.
"We saw a wonderful innings from Chris Gayle – it wasn't the fullest crowd you could've expected from Canberra and some people if they'd come would have witnessed something really special.
"You might see more of the same from one of the South African batsmen – or even the Irish, they've sprung a surprise already in this tournament beating the West Indies, can they do it again?"
Pollock felt Ireland had some firepower of their own.
O'Brien has the fastest World Cup century, coming off just 50 balls against England in 2011, when he led his country to an upset victory over the old enemy.
De Villiers' brutal innings at the SCG on Friday was the second-fastest hundred in World Cup history, taking two balls more than O'Brien.
Given they're both coming into this game in form - de Villiers off his brutal 162 not out and O'Brien hit 50 off 25 balls against the UAE on Wednesday - it could turn into a shoot-out between the two hard-hitters.
"They play different roles, but Kevin's got that ability, he got that quick 50 and that was really good," Pollock said.
"He's an exciting player and if he gets going he might put on a display as well. There's a lot of nice things to come and watch."
Ireland captain William Porterfield said O'Brien gave their batting line-up "x-factor".
He added the Irish would look to try and use their local knowledge – having played here last year, as well as having former Victoria No.3 Matthew Mott on their coaching staff - to "see the back of [de Villiers] early".
"If Kev can go out and repeat what he's done in the past as well then we've got that bit of X-factor ourselves," Porterfield said.
"It's obviously great to see in the world game, that's what people want to see."
South Africa all-rounder Farhaan Behardien said he had "goose bumps" when he was batting with de Villiers during his blistering 150 against the Windies last week and said his captain was a "level above" everyone else.
"A lot of batters can replicate what he does – I think [New Zealand captain] Brendon McCullum is one of them, Chris Gayle got a double hundred the other night," Behardien said.
"I wouldn't want to be in the bowling analysis meetings when trying to plan for A.B. de Villiers, I'm glad he's on my side.
"But personally I do think he's a level above, he's taken the game forward and he's done it on two occasions now, he's raised the bar – the fastest 150, the fastest 100."
CANBERRA'S CRICKET WORLD CUP
Tuesday: South Africa v Ireland at Manuka Oval, 2.30pm.
Tickets available from cricketworldcup.com. TV time: Live on Fox Sports 3.
