Australia vs New Zealand Preview: Crucial match as New Zealand look to cement their top four spot

Mitchell Starc reacts to removing Brendon McCullum in the 2015 World Cup Final.

The last time these two sides met in the World Cup fixture they were playing for the 2015 World Cup trophy. Australia were victorious on that day. Before that, a 19 wicket, 303 run thriller where Mitchell Starc returned 6 for 28 and almost led Australia to an unbelievable victory against all odds. This game promises so much as the two neighbouring nations jostle for top spot on the table with only a few matches to go. After New Zealand's shock loss to Pakistan on Thursday, the tournament has been pulled wide open and New Zealand, previously unbeaten, now requires a further win to cement their spot in the top four. Australia on the other hand are the only side guaranteed a semi-finals berth after their demolition of England on Tuesday. For the Kiwis it was their top order that failed, with Guptill, Taylor, Munro and Latham all struggling with the extra pace and aggression shown by the Pakistani quicks, they will be looking to reverse their form immediately against a similarly aggressive pace attack that Australia boasts. Kane Williamson once again stood up for New Zealand, but it was James Neesham who almost notched up a century, finishing 97* with some lower order help from Colin de Grandhomme.

It was also an off day for their bowling unit, that has been fantastic up until this hiccup, with Kane Williamson of all players having the best return against Pakistan, with a single wicket each to Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson and Williamson, as Pakistan romped home to an easy win. If New Zealand can put in a more telling performance against Australia it will go along way to their quest for a maiden World Cup triumph. For Australia, they have been fantastic to this point in the competition, losing to India despite a brilliant run-chase, they are peaking at the right time and will be looking to maintain momentum heading into the finals. With being the only team to have already progressed, there is the possibility of Australia resting some of their players, particularly Mitchell Starc who is being held together with enough strapping tape to have a majority holdings in the company. Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja and Glenn Maxwell will all be hoping for time in the middle, and a big score, as David Warner and Aaron Finch (currently sitting 1 and 2 respectively in the run scorers list) have occupied majority of the time in the middle so far for the Aussies. Will Williamson's men get one over the Aussies here to avenge their 2015 final defeat, or will the Aussie's be too strong? WATCH OUT FOR - Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell has shown glimpses of his best without being given the opportunity to excel.

Glenn Maxwell oozes so much natural ability and talent it makes you sick. Even more so when he consistently fails to live up to it. In this World Cup however, it would be hard to fault him for his returns given the amount of balls he is being given to face. Against New Zealand though, and the finals just around the corner, he would love to break the shackles and pass 50 for the first time in this tournament and get some confidence under his belt.

PREDICTION The World Cup final rematch from 2015 could really go either way, particularly if Australia chooses to rest players. But after Pakistan gave the Australian's the blueprint on how to dismantle the top order, you'd expect Starc, Cummins and Behrendorff to try and replicate that. With the two leading run scorers, then Smith, Khawaja and Maxwell, it's too strong of a side for New Zealand to overcome here. New Zealand will need to completely reverse their form, both with bat and ball, to bounce back form their Pakistan defeat with a victory here over Australia.

Australia to win 40-60 runs / 4-5 wickets STATISTICS HEAD TO HEAD ODI Matches: 136 Australia: 90

New Zealand: 30 N/R: 7

HEAD TO HEAD IN WORLD CUPS

Matches: 10

Australia: 7

New Zealand: 3

WORLD CUP RECORDS

Australia

Matches: 91

Won: 68

Lost: 21

Tie: 1

Best Result - Winners (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015)

New Zealand

Matches: 86

Won: 53

Lost: 31

Best Result - Runners-Up (2015)

ODI Record since World Cup 2015: Australia

Matches: 83

Won: 43 Lost: 37

New Zealand

Matches: 83

Won: 48

Lost: 31