Matfield expects to start despite injury

South Africa's Victor Matfield believes a hamstring injury that kept him out of a training session on Wednesday will not stop him facing Wales in the opening Pool D match of Rugby World Cup 2011 in Wellington on Sunday 11 September.

"We are still rehabilitating it, so we'll have a look on Friday, but we believe I'll be ready to play," Matfield said at a news conference at the team hotel on Wednesday.

However, he did admit the prognosis was not so good for long-term second-row partner Bakkies Botha, who also missed the session with an ankle injury (achilles tendinosis).

"It's difficult. I don't know if he'll (Botha) be ready for Saturday (Captain's Run before the Wales match), but hopefully he'll be ready for next week (against Fiji)," said the 34-year-old.

"He's training hard in the gym. I think they'll make the call on him on Friday, as well."

The pair have locked the Springboks scrum in 62 Tests, plus many more for their provincial side the Bulls, who are based in Pretoria.