Cape Town: Indian captain Rahul Dravid was upbeat about his side's chances of winning a 'battle of attrition' against South Africa on the last day of the series-deciding third cricket Test against South Africa here today (Jan 5,2007).

Dravid was also all praise for the wicket, in sharp contrast to his rival Graeme Smith who dismissed the track as 'sub-continental' and one that made it appear as if they were playing at the Eden Gardens.

The Indian captain belived his team had its 'nose ahead' in the game while underlining the importance of batting well in the first session today(Jan 5, 2007)

"We have our nose ahead in this game and are very happy to be bowling fourth on this surface. We have Anil Kumble up in our sleeve and it was heartening to see how Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag put pressure on their batsmen," Dravid said after the third day's play today.

On the track, he said, he did not expect such a track to be dished out for the crucial tie.

"You don't expect surfaces like this in South Africa but it's also a tribute to our good seam attack. Teams earlier never used to think before preparing grassy tracks for us but now they are forced into making conditions which can suit us." Dravid felt it could be a battle of attrition tomorrow and he would like to have a total where South Africa would be left with no option but to defend for safety.

"It will be a battle of attrition and we have seen the game can move quickly. It's a similar to what happens in India where the first three days the game can meander along and then it starts crumbling. There are 180 overs left in this game and things can happen quickly," he said.