New Delhi, Oct 7 (IANS) South Africa will be one of the favourites to win the Champions Trophy cricket title beginning in Mohali Saturday, captain Graeme Smith said here Friday.

"We are the No. 2 team in the world and we will not going to shy away from that tag," said Smith at his maiden press conference.

"We will be one of the favourites to win the title. But we can't take anyone (team) for granted," said the man returning from an injury that forced his to miss the recent tour to Sri Lanka.

South Africa open their Group B campaign with a match against New Zealand at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) in Mumbai Oct 16. They will then play against a qualifying team in Ahmedabad Oct 24 and round off their group engagements against Pakistan in Mohali Oct 27.

The qualifying team could be any one from the four - West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe - who will play a round robin league between Oct 7 and 14.

Two top teams from this league will join the tops six automatically qualified teams in the main round starting Oct 15.

1998 winners South Africa had a 10-day preparatory camp before coming here but Smith said the best practice would be in the Indian conditions.

"The best practice in the one in local conditions here," he said. "And we had a good tour of India last time (in 2005) and that experience will stand us in good stead."

Then South Africa had drawn the four-match one-day international series 2-2. Smith pointed out that more or less the same team is here for the 10-nation tournament.

South Africa will rely on the batting of Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher, Boeta Dippenaar and Herschelle Gibbs, besides Smith. The bowling will be in the able hands of veteran Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel and spinner Robin Peterson.

Coach Micky Arthur added another dimension when he said that South Africa's fielding could be as sharp as any other department.

"Fielding could be the defining feature of our team," he declared.

Arthur also welcomed Smith and Kallis back to the team, both returning from injuries.

"Kallis will have to take a lot of responsibility with the bat and the ball," Smith said.

Since all 21 Champions Trophy matches are day-night affairs, dew could play a role in deciding matches, and Smith acknowledged this.

"The last time we were here it was a factor. But we will work around it," he said.

Smith was also happy that his team has closed the gap with leaders Australia in the International Cricket Council ODI Championship table.

"We have had some recent successes against Australia and it was exciting. Our confidence against Australia is the same as against any team. It's nice to see the gap close."

Both Smith and Arthur acknowledged that this season is a long one for South Africa and it also includes the World Cup in the West Indies in March-April.

"We will see some rotation of players this season. We have got 18 guys (picked for the World Cup)," said Arthur.

South Africa is the first country to announce the captain (Smith), vice-captain (Kallis) and the probables for the March 11-April 28 World Cup.

South Africa get into action right away with a practice match against a local side here Saturday.