Overview

It may lack the spice of a Pakistan-India rivalry but like all local battles the Trans-Tasmin clash between Australia and New Zealand is always a hard-fought one as the Kiwis looking to upstage their more illustrious cousins. With the added incentive of a Champions Trophy title on the line, the final should be a cracker.

New Zealand head into the clash as underdogs. They almost always do but they also seem to enjoy punching above their weight.

Coming into the tournament the Kiwis were considered also-rans, dwindling in the lower echelons of one-day cricket. Blighted by injury, their cause wasn't helped by constantly having to call for reinforcements as first-choice players dropped by the wayside.

On paper this challenge should be a step too far for the New Zealanders but having matched the Australians in the Chapell-Hadlee Series earlier in the year, the Kiwis will posses the belief that they can beat the Aussies if all goes their way.

While the Black Caps have managed to come from behind the eight-ball to win in the past, a good start will be crucial in this game. The task of dismantling the Australians cannot be left to the lower order or Daniel Vettori's spin.

They possess the skill up front in both disciplines to do the damage. Ricky Ponting spoke of the Australians' ability to perform when it really mattered, and the likes of Kyle Mills, Shane Bond, Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor need to make it count on Monday.

The key men for Australia have always hit their straps at the right time, and as Ponting said in the build-up to the game he expects nothing to change in the final.

Despite the loss of Michael Clarke and Nathan Bracken, the Australians maintain great variation with ball and bat - from the pace of Brett Lee to the swing of Mitchell Johnson and the accuracy of James Hopes, Ponting has bowlers at his disposable for every situation.

The skipper will need every aspect of his arsenal on a Centurion pitch that looks set to favour the batsmen. Cloud cover is on the cards which could give the bowlers some assistance up front, but that is perhaps all they have to look forward to.

Both captains have indicated they are planning to stick with their winning combinations. The only change on the cards in the New Zealand line-up is second spinner Jeetan Patel coming into contention, with Neil Broom the man most likely to fall away should the Kiwis look to bolster their bowling options.

Key Men:

New Zealand: With no Jesse Ryder at the top of the order the early responsibilities fall on the shoulders of Brendon McCullum. The opening batsman has got off to a number of starts thus far but hasn't been able to get a big one. New Zealand need Monday to be the day he gets it right.

Australia: Shane Watson has been consistent with the ball throughout but in the semi-final against England the big all-rounder came off with the bat in scintillating fashion. Watson's all-round contribution will be crucial to Australia's cause.

Likely starting XI:

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Aaron Redmond, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Neil Broom, James Franklin, Kyle Mills, Ian Butler, Shane Bond.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Shane Watson, Tim Paine, Mike Hussey, Callum Ferguson, Cameron White, James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle.

Last Five Head-To-Head Results

February 2009: Australia won by six wickets at Adelaide
February 2009: Australia won by 32 runs at Sydney
February 2009: New Zealand won by six wickets at Melbourne
February 2009: New Zealand won by two wickets at Perth
December 2007: Australia won by 114 runs at Hobart

Squad:

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Neil Broom, James Franklin, Brendon Diamanti, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jeetan Patel, Ross Taylor, Shane Bond, Ian Butler, Scott Styris, Aaron Redmond, Iain O'Brien. .

Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Doug Bollinger, Michael Clarke, Callum Ferguson, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Tim Paine, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges, Shane Watson, Cameron White.

Julia Harris at Centurion