Kevin Pietersen is determined not to be distracted by his long-running feud with South Africa and concentrate on steering England into the World Cup semi-finals.

The Hampshire batsman is well aware that he will be the centre of attention when England face his former homeland tomorrow.

The match is effectively a quarter-final with the winners almost certainly progressing to the St Lucia semi-final on April 25.

Ever since Durban-born Pietersen took the decision to leave South Africa in protest at the quota system, which he believed was denying him opportunities to play cricket, and qualify for England he has been labelled as an opportunist and traitor.

The situation has been further inflamed by a war of words between Pietersen and South African captain Graeme Smith.

Pietersen labelled Smith a ''muppet'' in his recent autobiography and has dismissed him as childish in other interviews.

But with a prize of the World Cup's latter stages on offer, Pietersen is determined to focus on his performance.

He wants finally to guide England to a win over a major cricket nation in their eighth game of the tournament.

''I wouldn't say that it was the game that mattered to me more than all the others because Australia is as big a game as them all, but it's an important game for me and I look forward to it,'' said 26-year-old Pietersen.

''I think it's because of my upbringing that it matters.

"I just get this feeling inside, this switch that goes and when you wake up to play against Australia and South Africa, they are games that really get me turned on.''

The majority of the build-up to tomorrow's match at the Kensington Oval is bound to focus on Pietersen's relationship with Smith.

It became strained by Pietersen's criticism of the South African system, which tries to encourage black players through positive discrimination.

Smith responded by claiming: ''I'm patriotic about my country, and that's why I don't like Kevin Pietersen.

"The only reason that Kevin and I have never had a relationship is because he slated South Africa.

"It was his decision to leave and that's fine, but why does he spend so much time slating our country?''

It prompted Pietersen to call Smith a ''muppet'' and then say: ''I don't talk to Smith now. It's a waste of breath because I don't have any respect for him.''

But as the big game approaches, Pietersen has attempted to diffuse the explosive situation - even if he has not gone as far as attempting to make peace with Smith.

Pietersen said: ''I saw him in India and I saw him in the world series and we said hello.

''I think everyone knows we don't get on for whatever reasons, but that's gone, it's done, it's dusted, it's finished. It's not about myself, Graeme Smith, Andrew Nel or Michael Vaughan on Tuesday, it's about the collective and producing a big team performance.''

Their feud follows a series of dust-ups, including a confrontation between Nasser Hussain and Smith during the 2003 series in England.

Current captain Michael Vaughan also recounted in his autobiography how he had also fallen out with Smith, who he alleged also began calling all-rounder Andrew Flintoff ''a big baby'' during the 2004-5 series in South Africa, which England won 2-1.

Flintoff has since repaired his relationship with Smith, who he played alongside for the Rest of the World XI v Australia two years ago in the Super Series.

There does not appear to be any danger of Pietersen following suit, but England will be hopeful he can use any of the abuse to inspire him like he did against South Africa two years ago in his first major series.

Pietersen averaged 154 after being constantly abused by the crowds during the seven-match one-day international series, although he claims the majority of South Africans now understand his decision.

''It's going to be a big game with a lot of needle,'' he predicted. ''I don't know why there is needle between the two sides other than there are some really fierce competitors and world-class players on both sides.

''Whenever I go back to South Africa I've had a really good response from people now. I go back there regularly and it's a beautiful country and I love it.

''One of my favourite things to do in the world is go on safari and every year I go back to South Africa to do that. I have property in South Africa and everybody knows my reasons for doing what I did. It's gone now and I'll be ready to play my part in winning the game for England.''

Flintoff is expected to be available after blood tests taken at a nearby hospital for glandular fever proved negative.

Flintoff has been complaining of lethargy and a chest infection for the last ten days so he was sent to hospital as a precaution, but he has been given the all-clear and is expected to feature tomorrow.

Middlesex left-hander Andrew Strauss also came through a fitness test after suffering a dead leg caused by an accidental collision with bowling coach Kevin Shine while playing beach volleyball.