South Africa [Images] would rely on their ability to adapt and improvise according to the demands of the situation when they take on West Indies [Images] in the Champions Trophy [Images] semi-final in Jaipur [Images] on Thursday.

Coach Mickey Arthur said the team had been able to improve as the tournament progressed only because they realised that their "preconceived" strategies would not work on the kind of wickets that have been dished out for the tournament.

"We have improved gradually. I think like most teams we came here with a preconceived gameplan and a perception of the wickets that we were going to play on," he told reporters.

"It certainly took our first game at the Brabourne [in Mumbai against New Zealand [Images]], and obviously watching all the other games, to realise it wasn't the normal subcontinent conditions, and wickets could suit bowlers. We had to change our gameplan accordingly."

Arthur said the players had gained confidence along the way and were expecting another good show in the semis.

"We back the way we play, we have confidence in ourselves and the way we are playing at the moment. We can't worry about the opposition, we are worried about ourselves, we are worried about doing our things right. If we get our things right, we believe we can beat any side," he said.

However, he agreed that the team needed to be wary of some players in the West Indies side who were capable of turning a match on its head.

"We are obviously confident going into the semi-final, but know that they have a lot of star players who can turn and swing a game as well," Arthur said.

He said the rustiness that has come from their not playing enough matches coming into this tournament had not brushed off.

"I think one must remember that we are coming out of a winter (off season). We were supposed to play a one-day series in Sri Lanka [Images], which unfortunately was called off. So we had no practice coming into this tournament, barring a series against Zimbabwe.

"So we were a little bit rusty and it has taken us some time to find our straps, but I do believe we are getting strong as the competition goes on."

The South African top order has not fired so far in the tournament but the coach did not sound too worried about it.

"If you look at the tournament, I think most teams have struggled at the top of the order. I think the wickets are conducive to striking with that new ball.

"And that's certainly our gameplan with the ball. We have been to try and strike upfront. So I think it has been indicative of the wickets that we have played on.

"But I am sure we will get it right come the semi-final. I have got full confidence in the guys that they can do the job for us."

Asked if there was any special strategy for the semis, he said, "not at the moment. We have obviously done a lot of video analysis and got our gameplan and everything else in place."

"(However) We can plan and we can do everything off the field but it is up to our players to actually execute them, and I must take my hats off to our guys who have executed the gameplan fantastically well.

"We will have some plans for the West Indies, but we will just have to see how that unfolds," Arthur said.

On Herschelle Gibbs [Images], who has been starkly off-colour, he said, "I feel sorry for top-order batsmen of all sides in this competition. I am confident Herschelle will bounce back.

"He is a quality player and I know he is only one innings away from regaining that touch which makes him, on his day, one of the most exciting batters in the world to watch."

The batsmen were spotted going for big hits during the practice session in the morning. Was it routine or a reflection of their strategy for Thursday?

"It was just normal routine. The guys obviously always try to do that.

"We came over with the conceived strategy of trying to attack in the middle overs, but based on the wickets that we have had, we haven't been able to do that because we have lost too many wickets upfront.

"So, hopefully if we keep wickets in hand in this game it will allow our big hitters down the order, to do that.

"But it is important they practise it because we can't expect them to get out in the middle and do it without any practice."