Forced to deal with a washout that makes his team's passage to the Champions Trophy semi-finals stage that much more difficult, Australian captain Ricky Ponting found consolation in his batsmen's ability against the top quality spin on offer at Centurion on Monday.

The Aussies orchestrated 234 for four in 42.3 overs before heavy rain put an end to proceedings in the all-important Group A clash with India, leaving Ponting's posse in need of a victory over Pakistan on Wednesday to advance to the weekend's play-off platform.

"We were disappointed the game did not finish. We were in a strong position and with wickets in hands and a good few overs to go I thought we would have made it to 300. That would have been a very competitive total but it wasn't to be in the end with the rain," rued Ponting.

Tim Paine (57) and fellow half-centurion Mike Hussey (67) proved instrumental in Australia's potentially triumphant total, scoring runs with ease in the face of spin duo Amit Mishra and Harbhajan Singh's exploits before Mum Nature had the final word.

The men from Down Under will surely come up against Pakistani turn twosome Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal when the teams face off at Centurion on Wednesday. The dynamic spinners had a potent say in the five-ODI series earlier this year, which Australia won three-two.

"A positive was that we got in some good time against some quality spinners. Our batsmen played well so that's really good going into the Pakistan match, where there will surely be two spinners playing. Hussey and Paine played the spinners very well against India and that augers well for the upcoming match. Ajmal and Afridi are quality spinners. Yes they did well against us in Abu Dhabi and Dubai but we are up for it," added Ponting.

"Paine was positive up front. We combated their bowling well on a reasonable wicket. Yes, time against the spinners was very helpful going into the Pakistan match."

The 34-year-old captain looked forward to adding more success to their recent form in limited-overs competition, which includes a six-one ODI series drubbing of England.

"We always had one eye on the Champions Trophy during the England series and our time against them helped us prepare for this. We are heading in the right direction and some of the younger guys are stepping to the fore, which is very pleasing. We are confident where we are at. We will match up against Pakistan and give it our best shot. Destiny is in our own hands. It's up to us to play well, put out our best game and get better and better," he enthused at Tuesday's press conference.

With more rain predicted at Centurion come Wednesday, Ponting remains unperturbed by the possibility of another washout, which would see India booted out of the tourney and Australia certain of progressing beyond the group stages.

"We are in a good position. A lot of our players are in good from and we want to play the game, we want to play cricket. We can't control the weather but we are going to prepare for the match to the best of our ability and make sure we are ready to go for the game," he insisted.

While Paine and Ponting have had a wonderful run with the bat of late, opening batsman Shane Watson is in the middle of a horror slump. Three ducks on the trot - one against England in England and two in the Champions Trophy - has left the right-hander in desperate need of a tidy knock against Pakistan and Ponting believes Watson will deliver.

"It's not ideal. He got a good ball in Durham and a very good ball against the West Indies. Against India the ball was darting around and one eventually got him. It's unfortunate but he is working hard. I am confident he will come good and score runs his next time out to bat," concluded the proud skipper.

Jonhenry Wilson in Johannesburg