Although both teams should progress to the next round from Group A whatever the result, Australia has a World Cup-record 30-match unbeaten run and its Chappell-Hadlee trophy on the line. New Zealand is simply the underdog.
But the Ricky Ponting's Australians are wary, as the Black Caps more than often lift substantially in matches between the trans-Tasman rivals and will be playing this time in the wake of a deadly earthquake which devastated Christchurch this week, leaving at least 75 dead with 300 people still missing.
The New Zealanders sent out their heartfelt condolences to family, friends and compatriots immediately in the aftermath of the quake, and will be hoping to give fans a positive distraction with an upset victory over the Aussies.
Cricket Australia said players from both teams will wear black armbands during the match and observe a minute of silence before the start of play to mark the tragic event.
The Chappell-Hadlee trophy is usually contested in bilateral series but the nations have decided to play for it since the game could be their only one-day meeting this year.
“I'm delighted the teams will have a chance to compete for this great trophy, which underpins the trans-Tasman rivalry in the one-day game,” Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said. “There is plenty at stake in this game.” Australia holds the trophy, which has been contested annually since 2005, after a 3-2 win in New Zealand 11 months ago.
But New Zealand is on a high after its huge 10-wicket win over Kenya and its record against Australia improves when the trophy is on the line.
The Black Caps may have won just nine of 21 Chappell-Hadlee matches, but they lost all 12 of the other games between the sides over the same period.
“The trans-Tasman rivalry is revered by New Zealand fans,” New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said. “This is a truly unique occasion, with the two sides unlikely to compete for the Chappell-Hadlee trophy in India again.” So bragging rights are on the line, not least since Australia, winner of the last three World Cups, is unbeaten in the competition since losing its first two matches of the 1999 edition to New Zealand and Pakistan.
Australia's pedigree and recent 6-1 series success over Ashes holder England hints at the likely winner, but little can be read from the form book after both enjoyed routine opening wins.
Little could be learned from Australia's 91-run win over Zimbabwe, and even less from a match that the Black Caps wrapped up against Kenya in a total of less than 32 overs.
Aussie opener Shane Watson looks to be in good touch, but Jacob Oram and spinner Daniel Vettori should pose a bigger challenge than Zimbabwe's best bowlers.
“We know we have to improve and play better against New Zealand,” captain Ponting said. “We need to have our own game plans sorted out for better spinning attacks, there's no doubt about that.” Likewise, Mitchell Johnson took four Zimbabwean wickets but will have to keep firm control of his line and length at Nagpur's VCA Stadium after the Netherlands and England showed how easily wayward fast bowling can be punished there.
“The more we play and the more we become accustomed to these conditions then the better we will get,” Ponting said.
