How do you know that the Proteas are going to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand with a different level of mental readiness?

When their bowling coach Allan Donald becomes the first person to crack jokes at the breakfast table about the embarrassing run out at World Cup 1999 at Edgbaston against Australia.

But jokes aside, there are plenty on-field reasons that tell you the Proteas look ready to mount a proper challenge for the World Cup.

Forget about their record of never having won a World Cup knockout game.

Put aside the team-building expeditions to the Alps for a second and you will see that the Proteas have found comfort, confidence and psychological steel in what they can do with the willow and white leather ball.

It says a lot about a team when its backup top four batsman, Rilee Rossouw, has scored two sensational One Day hundreds and co-starred in two record partnerships in the series against the West Indies.

Rossouw's 132 from 98 balls - which included eight sixes - in the last of the five-match ODI series confirmed him as one of the best 12th man going to the tournament Down Under.

"Rossouw had a tough time of it early in his career, so I'm very happy for him," said Domingo.

"He has always been the type of player [who] could dominate the opposition and that's a big plus to have for a young player."

There has been plenty conjecture bandied about regarding the strength of the West Indies side that toured South Africa and whether the Proteas could draw value from their sparring sessions.

Instead of pushing the Proteas to the edge of a cliff, the Windies have been submissive, obedient almost, in a series that produced six South African centuries - including firsts for Rossouw and David Miller - and none for the islanders.

It's a recipe for over-confidence and complacency. But Domingo understood the need to manage expectation ahead of the global showpiece.