The Black Caps top the Super Eights table on run-rate from reigning champions Australia, the only other unbeaten side in the tournament.
ST GEORGE'S/GRENADA: New Zealand's Daniel Vettori said his side faced their toughest test yet as they prepared for a run of three games in nine days against a trio of leading World Cup contenders.
The Black Caps top the Super Eights table on run-rate from reigning champions Australia, the only other unbeaten side in the tournament.
However, they've yet to face one of their major rivals for the trophy. That will all change on Thursday when New Zealand play 1996 champions Sri Lanka here in Grenada.
They return to the Grenada National Stadium to face South Africa on Saturday ahead of their final Super Eights game against Australia on Friday.
One more victory will assure New Zealand, who've never won the World Cup, of a semi-final spot.
"I suppose the toughest test is coming up now. People perceive these three teams coming up as semi-finalists. We know it's going to be difficult. We're almost guaranteed a semi-final spot but we can control our own destiny if we win tomorrow," he said.
"That's what we want to do and put all doubts away and then find a comfortable semi-final if there is such a thing. I think we're lucky the three teams we are playing are three very good sides and tipped to do well in this World Cup," said Vettori, who now needs just one more wicket to become only the third New Zealander to take 200 in one-day internationals after Chris Harris (203) and Chris Cairns (203).
"We know if we are going to win the tournament we have to beat one of these three teams in either the semi-final or the final. It's a good wake-up call in some ways."
New Zealand are now just one short of equalling their 10-match winning run of 2004, having already beaten Australia three times at home before coming to the Caribbean.
But they know they face a stern challenge in a Sri Lanka side that earlier this year squared both a Test and one-day series in New Zealand.
"We've always had a feeling that when sub-continental teams come to New Zealand they tend to struggle but Sri Lanka certainly didn't the last time they came out and, if anything, probably got the better of us in our home conditions," Vettori explained.
"That doesn't happen too often and we realise that if they were doing that in our home conditions, they are going to be tough in these sorts of scenarios which tend to suit them."
Vettori, who has taken 12 wickets at this World Cup at an average of 20.91, said New Zealand had still to decide whether to go in with the same side that beat Ireland by 129 runs in Guyana on Monday.
But he said he didn't expect injury-prone fast bowler Shane Bond, who tops New Zealand's tournament bowling averages with an impressive 10 wickets at just over 10 apiece, to be rested.
"Shane's too competitive for that. If we win the first two maybe there's a chance of that but if we don't I'd be very surprised," said Vettori.
"Shane is our strike bowler, our marquee player and what we've tried to do over the last few years is work round him. That's been our success and I don't think will change that."
Both batsman Ross Taylor hasn't played since a group game against Kenya (because of a hamstring injury) and fast bowler Mark Gillespie, restricted to a substitute fielder appearance against Bangladesh because of an (of his shoulder) are available for selection.
But fast bowler Michael Mason, who injured his calf bowling against Bangladesh appears to need more time.
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