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A win at SuperSport Park would earn Australia top spot in the group and a semi-final against England.
Pakistan are already through to the final four, along with New Zealand.
An Australian loss would open the door for India to overtake them, as Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side plays the West Indies, the weakest side in the group.
Ponting said it was good to know Australia did not have to rely on other results and could focus solely on beating Pakistan.
"The destiny is in our own hands, we know what we have to do, we've got to continue to play well and continue to improve," he said.
"That's been the pleasing thing for me over the past few weeks, every game we've played we've been there or thereabouts, so we're heading in the right direction."
Although Australia will again be without vice-captain Michael Clarke, who is heading home because of back soreness, Ponting was confident the batsmen were in good enough form to handle Pakistan.
He was also confident opener Shane Watson could make snap his recent lean trot, which has stretched to three straight ducks - one in the last one-dayer in England and two in South Africa.
"The one-day game can grab hold of you like that," Ponting said.
"Although he hasn't made any runs I'm confident he'll make them in the next game."
Pakistan will consider resting captain Younus Khan and fellow batsman Imran Nazir, who are both nursing finger injuries.
They could also call on paceman Mohammad Asif, in what would be his first international in over a year after a series of doping issues and an arrest for possessing drugs.
Younus said the side was keen to build on its momentum.
"When you have good form you want to carry on with that and play good cricket, because if you lose you have to start again," he said.
Australia (from): Ricky Ponting (capt), Shane Watson, Tim Paine, Mike Hussey, Cameron White, Callum Ferguson, James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges, Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger.
Pakistan (from): Younus Khan (capt), Fawad Alam, Iftikhar Anjum, Imran Nazir, Kamran Akmal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Yousuf, Mohammad Asif, Naved-ul-Hasan, Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul.
The match is scheduled to start at 9.30am (5.30pm AEST).
© 2009 AAP
Let's watch who will be the winner...
