Having to rely on the England batting would challenge the nerves of the coolest customer, but at least, for Kevin Pietersen, the prospect of winning his first match as captain rests in his own hands today when the side chase a target of 197 to beat South Africa in the fourth npower Test at the Brit Oval.

Representatives of the sides spoke for the benefit of their own dressing-room rather than the media last night when they gave opposing assessments of the balance of power in a contest that would make a fitting climax to the series but for South Africa holding an unassailable 2-0 lead.

So much has gone right for Pietersen that anyone believing in destiny will consider it preordained that he hits the winning runs this afternoon. He already has a first-innings hundred to his name as well as strong performances from the two recalled bowlers, Stuart Broad and Stephen Harmison.

Broad, who wrapped up the South Africa second innings for 318 yesterday, said that he was “thoroughly enjoying” life under the new man, underlining how seamlessly players move of necessity from one era to the the next. “It has been a good week for Kevin and now there is a chance to make it a very good week,” Broad said.

“He is keen to start his captaincy reign with a win and we are all very keen for that as well. I was very proud and fortunate to play under Michael Vaughan. Obviously, Kevin is new, but he is pretty open to ideas on the bowling front - whatever I have wanted with fields, he has been happy to set.” The weather forecast predicts only brief showers, if that, as England aim to avoid their worst result at home since they lost 4-1 in the 2001 Ashes series. “I think we are favourites,” Broad said. “The pitch is pretty good to bat on and it is a quick-scoring ground. If we get our heads down and bat well, we should knock off the runs.

“There has been a little bit in it for the seam bowlers and some spin for Monty Panesar. If South Africa had got 250 or 260 in front, the lead may have been dangerous, but I really think the result is in our court.”

A.B. de Villiers, whose 97 held together the second half of the South Africa innings, said that an advantage of 250 had been his target, but otherwise he disagreed completely - and predictably - with Broad's analysis.

“I think that we definitely have a good chance,” De Villiers said.

“There has been something in it for the bowlers all the way through, definitely a bit of movement even with the older ball after 70 overs. Our bowlers have not been where they could be during the game, but this will be a good time for them to hit their straps.”

Broad thought the ability of Paul Harris, the South Africa No9, to bat for 87 minutes confirmed that the pitch remains harmless. But De Villiers said that England were beginning to worry during their partnership and that Pietersen erred by yielding singles to give Harris the strike. “When he put in only one slip against me, I started to have a go outside off stump,” De Villiers said.

Robert Key, the Kent captain, the outside candidate to replace Vaughan last week, told the BBC's Test Match Special that his own appointment was “never going to be a serious option”. He said: “I think it is for the best that Kevin Pietersen is doing it. Not only would I have had to prove I was a good enough player, I would have had to show I was a good enough captain as well.”