The Black Caps will have to adapt to the daytime playing conditions when they face Scotland in tonight's Super 12 match in Dubai, fast bowler Tim Southee has said.
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New Zealand, who are third in Group II on two points, lost to Pakistan in the tournament opener but bounced back with a win against India last weekend, playing both matches at night.
The 'Black Caps' will play the rest of their group games against Scotland, Namibia and Afghanistan in the afternoon, and will qualify for the semi-finals if they win each of those matches.
"It's not only an opposition, we don't know too much about and don't get to play that often, but it's also a day game (after) the first two were night games," Southee told reporters on Tuesday.
"There's that to adapt to as well, but we've had our scouting meetings. Obviously there's no dew factor, which you seem to be faced with in the night games here, at the moment.
"So it's just about trying to adapt to the conditions and surface as quick as possible that may react differently during the day."
Scotland stormed through the group stages to reach the Super 12, but come into the match having suffered back-to-back defeats by Afghanistan and Namibia, leaving them bottom of Group II and prompting a bout of soul-searching within the team.
"There was obviously a fair amount of disappointment after the two performances that we've put in since making the Super 12s," Scotland skipper Kyle Coetzer said.
"I'm a big believer of riding the wave and trying to use some of the emotions when you need to use them, but also you need to be okay with sitting back and taking a step back and just figuring out where you are, reassessing, and then moving forward again."
Coetzer added that the Scots had taken some time out to play a round of golf to take their mind off their recent reverses.
"We look after each other as well, and we tried to have a bit of time together, and like I said, regroup," he added.
"We're back on to it now. The team vibe is very positive: Very, very positive. Look, we're here in the Super 12s in a position that we all wanted to be.
"We know (New Zealand) are a fantastic side. We know that they're going to come and try and push us as hard as they possibly can.
"But pressure does some funny things sometimes, and we'll be looking to assert ourselves on them as much as we possibly can and try and put them under some pressure."
Those variable conditions have made the ability to adapt a vital skill for all teams but New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell has had to be more flexible than most players.
The 30-year-old batsman had expected to be battling for a middle order spot at his first World Cup but coach Gary Stead threw him in at the deep end with a move to the top of the order.
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Mitchell, son of former of former All Blacks rugby coach John, made a decent fist of his match as an opener in the loss to Pakistan before really finding his touch with a fluent 49 off 35 balls to help the Black Caps thrash India on Sunday.
The power hitter said he prided himself on his adaptability and had not hesitated when offered the chance to open.
"It's an opportunity to face more balls, and it's a role where if you go as well, you can help your team win games of cricket," Mitchell told reporters from the UAE.
"I was just really excited to get the opportunity to play for New Zealand at a World Cup. It's something that you always dream of and to take on India was even cooler."
Stead said after the India match that he had selected Mitchell to top the order with Martin Guptill as much for his attitude as for his ball-striking skills.
"He's got a lot of attributes that we like, we love his competitiveness, the way he takes on teams as well," he said.
The victory over India means New Zealand will now qualify for the semi-finals if they win their last three matches against Scotland, Namibia and Afghanistan.
In a reflection, perhaps, of the cautious approach of the whole New Zealand squad, Mitchell said he considered Scotland "dangerous" opposition and he would not be taking them lightly in Dubai on Tuesday.
"The World Cup is a funny old game, especially in conditions that are here with the pitches that bring everyone close," he added.
"So, we're going to have to be ready to go from ball one."
-Reuters
