James Anderson is confident his knee injury is on its way out.

It was Anderson whose maiden five-wicket haul yesterday powered England to a seven-wicket win against South Africa to put them in an unbeatable 2-1 lead, with only one match of the one-day international series left to play in Durban.

Anderson has been troubled by the knee niggle for the past fortnight. But when he had to leave the field at St George's immediately after finishing his 10 overs, it was to attend to strapping on a stubbed toe on his left foot - not his right knee.

With a four-Test series beginning against the same opponents next month, there has been understandable concern over the management of Anderson's injury.

But after helping to bowl South Africa out for just 119 - their lowest ODI total on home soil - Anderson said of his knee: "It seems to be getting better.

"The practice sessions, I'm taking reasonably lightly - and I'm getting it strapped up in a game as well.

"The way we are managing it, it is gradually getting better - and I hope it can continue."

Anderson has four days before England need him to perform in the middle again, and he added: "If it's getting better while I'm playing I'm pretty confident it will just continue to do so.

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"It's not a concern at all once I've started bowling."

It appears Anderson's captain Andrew Strauss can sleep easy over his pace spearhead's well-being - and he is also relaxed about the hostility being shown towards South Africa-born batsman Kevin Pietersen by the home crowd.

While Pietersen's fellow natives in the England team - Strauss is one, and Jonathan Trott another - are receiving no special treatment, the mercurial middle-order batsman gets little peace.

But Strauss said: "That is something that we just don't concern ourselves with at all.

"It's up to the South African public to do what they want to do.

"I know that Kevin's not bothered about it. If anything, it might give him a bit more motivation to have a big impact on the series - like he did last time."

Strauss is contemplating the bigger picture - one which leaves England in with an outstanding chance of inflicting a rare home series defeat on South Africa.

"We're in a good position - but we're not getting carried away with ourselves," he said.

"We said after (last Friday's defeat in) Cape Town it is a long-term plan for us to improve in one-day cricket.

"We're showing some very promising signs at this stage that we can go forward.

"We've got a brilliant opportunity to win a series out here on Friday - which would be a really good achievement."

Strauss' opposite number Graeme Smith knows his team must fight back for the second time in the series, with a draw the best they can now manage.

"We knew playing England would be tough - which it always is," he said.

"Both teams are battling inconsistencies at the moment.

"We've got a lot of young guys in key, decision-making areas. They need to learn quickly and grow with the responsibility that has been put on their shoulders to lead the team forward."

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