Farewelling run machines Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene on the right note will drive Sri Lanka at the World Cup.

On the eve of the tournament opener against New Zealand at Hagley Oval on Saturday, Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews described the pair as irreplaceable institutions who formed the heartbeat of the national team for 15 years.

Both 37-year-olds have indicated they will end decorated international tenures after the six-week tournament.

Mathews says going one better than Sri Lanka’s beaten finalist finish of 2007 and 2011 will be the ideal thank you.

“The amount of service that they have rendered to our team has been invaluable,” he said.

“They both just want to win all the time and they’ve contributed so much. It will be a fitting farewell if we can do it for them.”

Sangakkara, 37, sits third on the all-time ODI run-scoring list and needs 12 more to go past second-placed Australian Ricky Ponting.

He won’t catch Indian great Sachin Tendulkar, whose tally of 18,426 is nearly 5000 runs away.

Jayawardene is fifth on the list, sitting behind another Sri Lankan, the retired Sanath Jayasuriya.

Mathews says the veterans have played an important role at team meetings in the lead-up to the tournament.

Along with accomplished opener Tillakaratne Dilshan, they have spoken about the key to tournament play.

As well as their recent World Cup deeds, Sri Lanka have reached the final at three of the last four World Twenty20 tournaments.

“Experience counts a lot when it comes to World Cups,” Mathews said.

“They’ve been there, they’ve done it before, they’ve gone through the emotions.”

Mathews hopes their lengthy build-up in New Zealand will pay dividends.

He says the 4-2 series loss to the Black Caps last month taught key lessons, including getting more runs out of their lower and middle order.

They will also tweak their seam bowling approach, boosted by a return to fitness for Lasith Malinga.

“In the recent past, especially in New Zealand, we’ve found ways of losing games rather than winning games.

“We’ve got to be aggressive. They’re on a roll so we need to back our strengths and go out and be positive.”

LEADING ODI RUN-SCORERS

18,426 – Sachin Tendulkar (India, 1989-2012)

13,704 – Ricky Ponting (Australia, 1995-2012)

13,693 – Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka, 2000-15)

13,430 – Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka, 1989-2011)

12,525 – Mehala Jayawardene (Sri Lanka, 1998-2015)