ST GEORGE'S, Grenada (Reuters):

NEW ZEALAND captain Stephen Fleming said their final World Cup Super Eight game with Australia would be treated as seriously as possibl both teams were already through to the semi-finals.

New Zealand play Australia in Grenada tomorrow in a game that is unlikely to upset the positions of the semi-finalists. But Fleming said his "best possible team" would be played, barring any injury scares.

Both teams have already comfortably qualified for the last four from the round-robin Super Eights second stage.

The outside chance of beating Australia and leaping into first place in the table was not a factor in who would be played or rested, Fleming said yesterday.

"If we do top the table, that's great. We're not trying to manipulate the draw to such a degree.

"If we do have a comprehensive win against Australia then we would happily move to St. Lucia but I think the mathematical equation to do that's pretty steep so first and foremost we'll try to win this game and feel good about ourselves going to Jamaica."

Form horse

Fleming said Australia were the "form horse" at the tournament and the team was simply focusing on securing a win against them.

But part of the team selection for tomorrow's game would be looking forward to the semi-final, at this stage against Sri Lanka in Jamaica on Tuesday, Fleming said.

That match pits the team which finished second in the Super Eights against the third.

"We desperately want to win this game but we also want to be smart enough to make sure all our bases are covered going forward."

He said New Zealand were a team that enjoyed playing Australia, where other teams might shy away from the challenge.

They proved that with a 3-0 one-day series whitewash over Australia just before the World Cup started in March.

"They've given us some good thumpings and we steal the odd win here and there. We'd like to change that around over the next wee while."