Australia vs New Zealand: Dress Rehearsal for the Final?

Now that India versus Pakistan and India versus South Africa are both done and dusted, which is the most highly anticipated match in the World Cup that fans are waiting for with bated breath? Chances are the answer is Australia versus New Zealand. The co-hosts of this edition of the World Cup are also pre-tournament favourites and in red hot form. With the two teams being the bookmakers' top two favourites to win the Cup, Saturday's encounter could well be a dress-rehearsal for the big final on March 29.(Kiwis Won't Sledge vs Australia: Coach)

Incredibly, the trans-Tasmanian clash on Saturday (February 28) will be the first encounter between these two sides in 4 years. The last time they played each other was in the 2011 World Cup in Nagpur, when Australia won by 7 wickets. They were scheduled to play in the 2013 Champions Trophy, but that match was abandoned after the first innings due to rain.(Waugh Backs New Zealand)

Overall, Australia hold the edge in ODIs, having won 85 of their 125 encounters so far. Legendary Kiwi fast bowler Sir Richard Hadlee has in fact picked Australia as the favourites, though he expects a close encounter. Hadlee has said, "I think Australia are favourites, but the way New Zealand are playing, we will given them a good run and we are good enough to get across the line."

New Zealand so far have pulled off thumping wins in the 2 matches they have played against quality sides in the ongoing World Cup, beating Sri Lanka by 98 runs and England by 8 wickets. There's no doubt that McCullum and his boys are on a roll, but are they feeling the pressure, especially considering they will be playing on home turf and will have a point or two to prove? If you ask Kiwi coach Mike Hesson, the answer will be no. Hesson has said, " It's just another one of the round robin games and obviously it's going to be a good one. We know it's going to be a great contest, we haven't played Australia a lot in recent times, but it's an important game for us and important for the group, so we will treat it as the other ones."

Who holds the edge in this clash is the million dollar question. Hadlee, who has picked Australia, feels, the Aussies have more power hitters and that could swing the contest their way. The highest Test wicket-taker for New Zealand has said, " They've got probably six power hitters in their side and with the short boundaries, it could be the contest of the power hitters, the team that can hit more sixes and fours." Interestingly, while a legendary Kiwi has picked Australia, an iconic Aussie has picked New Zealand. Former Australian captain Steve Waugh has said, "To be brutally honest, New Zealand is probably going in as slight favourites. They have really got their confidence up and Auckland is a very hard place to play, it's just a different kind of ground."

While the Kiwis, who have won 3 out of 3 so far, will not really be under pressure as far as the points table is concerned, the Aussies will be desperate to win this contest. Apart from bragging rights, they will be keen to reduce the gap between themselves and the Kiwis on the points table, especially after they were forced to split points with Bangladesh due to a wash out, which meant they are currently ahead of the Bangla Tigers, only on net-run-rate.

Neither team can be tagged underdogs for this clash, but only one will earn the tag of top dog on Saturday.