Intro:

New Zealand off-spinner Daniel Vettori looks forward to the ICC World Cup Pool A showdown with co-hosts Australia on Saturday at Eden Park, Auckland.

Script:

SOUNDBITE (English): Daniel Vettori, New Zealand:
(How important is this game?)
"It has been a consistent, casual build-up, and I think that has worked very well for us. I think the guys are enjoying it. I still...it feels strange having a World Cup at home. It feels like a home series at the moment. But the game against England with the big crowd there was amazing. And I think it will just be a continuation of that. So, I don't think that there will be much difference in the way we go about things. And I am just looking forward to it. Look forward to Saturday, rather than fear it a little."

SOUNDBITE (English): Daniel Vettori, New Zealand:
(Is there an underdog in this game?)
"I think that New Zealanders would be unhappy if we didn't take an underdog status. I think that is something that we have held onto for a long time. But I think it is really irrelevant all that talk because all that matters is the conversation after the game. So that is what...we will sit back and see how the game unfolds and then worth talking about then and not really now."

SOUNDBITE (English): Daniel Vettori, New Zealand:
(On sledging)
"Like everything, it is a little bit overstated. In my 18 years of playing I can't even remember being sledged by an Australian team. I think the way that it is portrayed is not quite right. And I think that the guys that go into battle will look forward to it. And I think it is more about the actual physical contest; that's what the guys get up for and get excited about. And I don't expect it to be any different in this game."

SOUNDBITE (English): Daniel Vettori, New Zealand:
(Will it be intimidating for the younger NZ batsmen to come up against the Australian pace attack led by Mitchell Johnson?)
"I think it will be exciting. I think that is one of the challenges around world cricket to come up against fast bowlers. And we are lucky enough to have Adam (Milne) in our team and face him a lot. So, we get a feel for that pace, day in, day out. But Australia are ranked number one in the world so that's the real challenge - not just their fast bowlers, but the whole side."