South Africa has never won the World Cup despite being a favorite in previous editions. New Zealand is a five-time semifinalist. Neither team has reached a final.

The Black Caps once again find themselves as underdogs, having finished the group stage with a heavy loss to Sri Lanka in which its batting looked fragile.

On Friday, the Kiwis will have to contend with South Africa's much-admired bowling unit, which has made the Proteas the only side to bowl out every team they have met.

Spinners Robin Peterson (14 wickets) and Imran Tahir (12) have combined with pace duo Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn to make South Africa look like champions in waiting.

Despite taking 3-14 against Bangladesh on Saturday as Steyn and Morkel took a break, Lonwabo Tsotsobe is likely to make way for their return on Friday.

New Zealand's bowling attack is expected to be boosted by the return of Daniel Vettori and Kyle Mills after injury and the team will be hopeful that its top order can resist the South African bowlers.

New Zealand was bowled out for 206 against Australia and 153 against Sri Lanka, but Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor all hit big scores in the group stage.

South Africa will be particularly wary of dangerman Taylor, who combined with Jacob Oram to smash 92 from the last four overs in the win over Pakistan.

“He's in very good form,” South Africa offspinner Johan Botha said. “We know we're up against a quality team and if we're not on top of our game it's going to be a tough match.” New Zealand's bowlers, under the coaching of former South Africa paceman Allan Donald, have been quietly impressive too. Mills, Tim Southee and Oram have looked dangerous with the new ball, and the return of the experience Vettori will test South Africa's ability to play spin.

“We need to put South Africa under pressure early,” Donald told cricinfo.com. “That is the key. We could also be looking at opening with a spinner. That is another option.” Both teams appear to believe they will have the edge in experience at Dhaka's Sher-E-Bangla Stadium.

New Zealand played an away series in Bangladesh last year - losing 4-0 - while South Africa has been in Dhaka since last week, having trounced Bangladesh in its last group game on Saturday.

Graeme Smith's South African squad has been able to take two days off to rest, shop and play golf.

“It probably saves you a day and a half of traveling and getting everything sorted out,” Botha said. “It's nice we could stay on. We're settled in, we know the ground, that will help us on Friday.” New Zealand arrived in the Bangladeshi capital on Tuesday.

It will have its first training session at the ground on Thursday.

New Zealand, who have beaten South Africa at the last two World Cups, will at least hope that Friday's game is tight.

The South Africa players have been loath to discuss it, but the Proteas have developed a nasty habit of tripping up at the World Cup just as the trophy is in sight.

In 1996, South Africa lost in the quarterfinal to a West Indies side that had been beaten by Kenya in the group stage. Three years later, they were eliminated on runrate after a semifinal tie with Australia.

The 'choker' tag came back to haunt South Africa in the group stage this time round when the team lost a low-scoring game against England, but in the next game, they chased down 297 with two balls to spare against India.

South Africa all-rounder Francois du Plessis believes the loss to England could ultimately be the making of his side at this World Cup.

“It's given us a nice sense of if we come to that situation again, we know what to do,” he said. “We learned from that and took it into the India game.” The winner of Friday's match will face Sri Lanka or England in Colombo next Tuesday.
 
Daniel Vettori (capt), James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Jamie How, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson, Luke Woodcock, Daryl Tuffey.

John Wright (NZL)

Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Colin Ingram, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Morne van Wyk.

Corrie van Zyl (RSA)

Aleem Dar (PAK) and Rod Tucker (AUS)

Kumar Dharmasena (SRI) Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (SRI)

A slow wicket where the ball does not come on to the bat, but it has provided equal opportunities for fast bowlers and spinners.