Premier Mike Rann has made a big leap of faith this morning, while defending embattled Police and Olympic Dam Minister Kevin Foley

Mr Rann says he and Mr Foley met the head of mining giant BHP last week

He's told FIVEaa he expects the company will next March announce it will expand the Olympic Dam mine, making it the biggest in the world

Mr Rann says it's another sign of Mr Foley's hard work on behalf of South Australia

"Last week Kevin Foley and I met with Marius Kloppers, the head of BHP Billiton, the 4th biggest mining company in the world, and because I know I'll have my head kicked in if I mislead the public, I am very, very confident that by the end of March next year, we will have the go ahead for the expansion of the worlds biggest mine, ever, and that is about thousands and thousands of jobs."