Tens of thousands of cricket-mad fans will pack Auckland's Eden Park today for what is sure to be a hotly-contested semi-final between the Black Caps and South Africa, Radio New Zealand reports.
The final New Zealand-held Cricket World Cup match is almost sold out, and MetService says this morning's wet weather shouldn't be a problem for the match.
Forecaster Georgina Griffiths said 6-7mm of rain had fallen on Eden Park in the early hours but the showers would ease.
There was a risk of shower at the start of the match at 2pm, but the sun should come out during the afternoon.
New Zealand, unbeaten so far in the tournament, have lost six previous World Cup semi-finals; in 1975, 79, 92, 99, 2007 and 2011. The Proteas have also never made a final.
New Zealand cricket captain Brendon McCullum says the way the Black Caps have been playing is exciting. To win World Cups in crunch games they need to remain true to that, he says, and he doesn't expect that will change today.
The Black Caps are one of only two teams in the tournament, along with defending champions India, to have won all seven matches they have played.
McCullum says they talk a lot about this being the greatest time of their lives and the trip that they've been on so far has been one that they will all remember.
Proteas captain AB de Villiers says he's paid no attention to New Zealand being deemed the favourites for the clash, adding that if his side plays to their full potential, nobody is going to stop them.
The winners will meet either Australia or India in the final in Melbourne on Sunday.
