Cape Town (South Africa), Apr. 8 : Proteas coach Mickey Arthur believes outcome of the third one-day match with Australia could determine the outcome of the five-match series.

The match will take place in Cape Town on Thursday.

"It''s hugely important to us and we are really looking forward to it. The two teams are evenly matched and it''s all there for one team to reach out and grab. It''s all there for one team to really take the initiative on Thursday make a claim for the series,” the South African Press Association (SAPA) quoted Arthur, as saying.

"The side that wins on Thursday will take a lot from it. Bearing in mind the situation now, at one-all, it''s probably the most important ODI. The two sides are so close, that if you just open the door, the other side will walk through," he added.

Arthur said South Africa had done some serious soul-searching after their 141 drubbing in Durban last Friday, and he expected the Australians had done the same after South Africa dismissed them for 131 at Supersport Park on Sunday.

"It''s going to be up to us. We put into practice (on Sunday) a lot of what we spoke about on Friday night. We reinforced what we''d spoken about before the first ODI and I think our execution on Sunday was fantastic. I''m pretty sure Australia are doing the same thing right now," he said

Arthur said he did not expect changes to the team that demolished Australia on Sunday.

"We have an unbelievable balance in the team that we''ve put out now. I think people have seen the balance that Jacques Kallis brings to our side - we were unbalanced in Durban. Jacques is two players, really. We couldn''t afford that extra batter in Durban because we didn''t have enough fire power in the bowling," he added.

Arthur added, "With this current combination, we bat to 10 -I certainly include (Wayne) Parnell in that - and we have seven bowling options at our disposal, which is a very nice position to be in. We''ve found a combination that will work."

"We also have the ability to change that combination according to conditions," he added. "We''re in a very good position, and it''s not a position that happened by chance - it took a lot of thinking and a lot of planning. The squad is as good a squad as we''ve ever had." (ANI)