KEY POINTS:
Not many batting line-ups breathe a sigh of relief at the prospect of facing South Africa's impressive attack, but that's how New Zealand are feeling ahead of tomorrow's crucial World Cup game against the Proteas.
Having been undone by the brilliant Sri Lankans yesterday, New Zealand need to beat South Africa to cement a semifinals berth, or wait to make a move in their final second-round game, against Australia.
If New Zealand lose their remaining two Super Eight contests, they could find themselves tied with South Africa, Sri Lanka or England on eight points and be thrown into a run-rate count-back to decide their fate.
England need to win their remaining two games against South Africa and the West Indies to have a chance, and South Africa have challenges looming from New Zealand and England.
Stephen Fleming said last night that there was no doubting South Africa's quality, but that his side were looking forward to playing against a bowling attack that included no extravagant or mystery actions.
The New Zealand captain hinted that he believed the new pitch at Grenada would continue to hold up a fraction, as it did yesterday, and favour those teams with deep and resourceful spin bowling attacks.
"They [South Africa] are more orthodox in terms of their bowling attack; they don't have the world's best bowler for a start," Fleming said.
"They're a pace-dominated attack and certainly on this pitch at Grenada, that should allow us a few more options."
South Africa have lost two games already in this tournament, having been knocked over by Australia in the group phase before suffering a scarcely believable loss to emerging nation Bangladesh at Georgetown.
However, they struck back with interest in the next outing, dismembering the hosts at Grenada last Wednesday after AB de Villiers scored 146 off 130 balls to lead his team to comparative safety at 356 for four.
The Proteas' best bowler of the tournament so far has been Charl Langeveldt with 12 wickets, but New Zealand tend to have problems with Makhaya Ntini and will also be challenged by the in-form Andrew Hall, Andre Nel and Shaun Pollock.
"They're incredibly confident in what they do and they try to place pressure on you through their fielding and squeezing and bowling their lines," said Fleming.
"But they provide a different challenge to the one you face when you play Sri Lanka; a far more orthodox attack."
NZ v South Africa
* Grenada, 1.15am tomorrow
