KEY POINTS:
MELBOURNE - The time for honourable losses to Australia is over for New Zealand's cricketers.
After a memorable eight-run defeat in Perth when chasing 344, following a two-wicket loss in Sydney in a match which literally slipped through their fingers, New Zealand take to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday with a steely determination to clear the last hurdle.
"The biggest thing is trying to get that win to cross the next line, because if we get to the finals it's no good having four from four in the loss column," vice-captain Daniel Vettori said today.
"I feel like it's important to beat them now. We've had a couple of close games when things have let us down a little bit.
"If we win here then we actually get some confidence going into the finals series, then on to the World Cup."
New Zealand have gone close, but only won one of their last 13 matches against Australia -- when Vettori and Brendon McCullum guided them home by two wickets chasing 332 in Christchurch a year ago.
The last time the teams met at the MCG five years ago, Shane Bond ripped through Australia's top order before master finisher Michael Bevan got the hosts home by two wickets with three balls to spare.
Sunday's match isn't do or die but a win would seal New Zealand's finals spot for sure as England have only a tiny mathematical chance if they hammer New Zealand and gain a bonus point in Brisbane on Tuesday.
The first match in the best-of-three finals series is at the MCG next Friday.
With allrounder Jacob Oram lifting them to new heights, self belief isn't lacking, but victory would give New Zealand a boost at the right time of the season, with the World Cup just six weeks away.
"With Scott (Styris) coming back it makes a bit of a difference, there is confidence in the camp but confidence is not much good if we put up a performance that doesn't warrant it," Vettori said.
Recovered from a back injury, Styris looks certain to slot back at No 4 or No 5 in the order, with Peter Fulton or Craig McMillan to drop out.
McMillan's bowling and his bludgeoning 89 against Australia in Sydney gives him the jump on Fulton, who has looked in good touch but has a top score of just 37 in the tri-series.
Then there's the debate over which pacemen will play, with Bond and Mark Gillespie again likely to play just one match each in coming days as the others fit around that.
The inspirational Bond was held back in Perth to play England and seemed slightly down on pace, taking one for 58.
The temptation might again be to play him in Brisbane to ensure they nail England, but his outstanding record against Australia and the tourists' keen desire to win makes it a tough call.
"Shane's come through a few tribulations on this tour, his back tends not to stand up to play-travel-play," said Vettori, an on-tour selector.
"We've got to work out whether it's more important to try and get the win here or against England. He's pretty vital to a side who's trying to win a game."
With everyone said to be fit and available for selection, New Zealand took to the vast MCG under 30degC sunshine for a fielding session today as Australia played England in Sydney.
New Zealand dropped six catches in two matches in Perth, with Vettori still hurting from dropping centurymaker Matthew Hayden on nought. He remained mystified by the recent blunders.
"James Franklin and myself have shelled a couple and it's most unlike us, we've had pretty good catching records.
"There's two ways of going about it, you either forget about it and work hard -- I know I'm going one way and James is going the other."
Having survived 42degC temperatures in Perth, another scorcher is due on Sunday with 38degC forecast.
- NZPA
