Michael Brown: Many reasons to be optimistic about Cup chances

Sonny Bill Williams' impact on the Kiwis side has been immense. Photo / Getty Images

The Kiwis have beaten Australia only twice in the past five years under coach Stephen Kearney, which is a poor return, but also means they are due. If you look at the sequence of the last three wins - 2005, 2008, 2010 - surely it's time again.

There are more tangible reasons to be optimistic. They might be up against a terrific Australian side but the Kiwis have assembled arguably the best squad so far, have the best player on the planet and have put together a faultless campaign off the field.

They also have a forward pack capable of dominating Australia, a pair of halves growing in stature and some exciting outside backs.

They aren't the complete side - Kevin Locke and Bryson Goodwin still make you nervous, some of the big boys have the potential to give away cheap penalties or commit silly errors which invite trouble and Shaun Johnson can be vulnerable on defence - but they are considerably better than ones of not-too-distant times and will really test Australia tomorrow.

They did it in the first half of this year's Anzac test when, if a couple of video referee decisions had gone their way, they could have been leading by 12 points at the break. And that was without the considerable talents of the likes of Sonny Bill Williams, Simon Mannering, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Manu Vatuvei, Sam Kasiano and Frank-Paul Nu'uausala.

Williams' impact on this Kiwis side has been immense. They wouldn't have beaten England last weekend without him and his presence makes others believe.

He has the potential to not only change the game by himself but also keep his side in the grind, as he did against England. And it will be a grind.

New Zealand have a simple game plan - roll it up the middle and build pressure by completing sets - but it's effective when done properly and not even Australia can stop them.

They couldn't in 2008, when the Kiwis had a superior completion rate and also won the penalty count, and there's no reason why they can't do it again.

They have a hooker in Issac Luke capable of exploiting gaps and making easy metres and arguably the two form wingers who can score tries from anywhere.

Australia haven't been tested in this World Cup, certainly not since the opening game of the tournament, and that will count against them. They have been building for the final, trying to play relentless 80-minute football, but it's a different story when an opposition is actually capable of matching it with you.

The Kangaroos have scored a combined 210-2 in their last four games and not conceded a try in 322 minutes. That looks great but it's far from ideal.

Yes, they have all played big games before but that is normally after a good lead-in.

In contrast, the Kiwis go in having won one of the greatest games of league in recent memory.