Familiarity bred confidence for the New Zealand team in 1992, the first time the country co-hosted the World Cup. After being shellacked 3-0 by England in the build-up, they entered national folklore by winning seven straight round-robin games before pool and semi-final losses to Pakistan.

This year's vintage can enter the tournament with more ambition. Since the start of 2013 they have beaten South Africa, England and Pakistan in away series but the highlight has been a 4-0 dismantling of then world No. 1 India at home last summer. They have also shared ODI series with West Indies (at home) and Sri Lanka (away) and have just comfortably defeated Sri Lanka and Pakistan in local conditions. Their loses have come to England and South Africa at home and Bangladesh away.

There are question marks. Finding their mojo in limited-overs tournaments, like the last two World T20s and last year's rain-affected Champions Trophy in England, is not quite a job for the Hubble telescope, but it's been elusive.

The team, however, brims with talent. The competition for places has seldom been stronger. As a result, the selectors could afford to exclude Jesse Ryder, a rare cricketing savant but a recidivist for breaching team protocol.

New Zealand are led effectively by Brendon McCullum in what could be his last major ODI tournament after 13 years in the format. Potential contributors are everywhere. There are measured accumulators (Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson), batting aggressors (Ross Taylor and Corey Anderson), pace antagonists (Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Mitchell McClenaghan) and spin misers (Daniel Vettori and Nathan McCullum).

In home conditions under the astute man-management of coach Mike Hesson, New Zealand have a logical chance of moving into uncharted territory, namely the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 29 for the final.

World Cup pedigree

New Zealand have appeared in six semi-finals in ten appearances but are yet to go further. The closest they got was losing by nine runs to England in 1979 when they needed 14 off the last over.

Other earnest but ultimately futile performances have pervaded. Pakistan's Inzamam ul-Haq's 60 runs off 37 balls sank local dreams after New Zealand posted a competitive 262 for 7 at Eden Park in 1992. Sri Lanka ended New Zealand's 2011 quest at Colombo but only after teetering in the final stanzas.

X-factor

The 3-4 punch of Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor is the New Zealand vehicle's chassis. Williamson provides patience and timing; Taylor offers muscle and composure.

The pair has partnered in 28 innings for 1491 ODI runs, including six century stands, at an average of 55.22. Compare that to the exalted 3-4 combination of Andrew Jones and Martin Crowe who had 41 innings together for 1588 runs, four century partnerships and an average of 41.78.

In the 4-0 defeat of India last summer neither Taylor nor Williamson exited before the 33rd over when the score was between 150 and 200. Middle-to lower-order closers can't ask for better positions from which to launch.

Players in focus

The best New Zealand eras have had exceptional captains reflecting the zeitgeist. The measured Walter Hadlee in 1949; the astute Geoff Howarth and cerebral Jeremy Coney of the 1980s; the street-wise Stephen Fleming heading into the 2000s. Brendon McCullum could join their company with success (semi-final or better) here.

He's gelled the operation in his two-year tenure, a scenario scarcely imaginable when cricket in New Zealand threatened to implode following predecessor Taylor's demotion.

Tim Southee's arrival as a 19-year-old prodigy almost seven years ago with an intuitive wrist position to swing the ball, has made him the leader of the attack today. He can fish for early wickets, opt for short-of-a-length containment or york batsmen at the death. Capable of breaking the prohibitive codes of short boundaries and field restrictions in ODI cricket, Southee shows little fear. He also offers mercurial batting, athletic outfielding, and safe catching.

On New Year's Day last year, Corey Anderson's shots generated vapour trails against West Indies in Queenstown during his 36-ball fastest ODI century, recently eclipsed by AB de Villiers. This is a further chance to demonstrate his preposterous ability to attack. His left-armers can be a useful - though expensive - way of gleaning wickets. As a result he must be catalogued under 'batting allrounder' but his skill with the bat alone could have a significant impact.

Game style

New Zealand have been at pains to scrutinise their game and designate players to specific roles. Traditional averages tend to resonate with fans but strike-rates, economy-rates, and analysis of opponents' techniques are stronger themes in camp. Put simply: under pressure, 25 runs off 10 balls can be more valuable than 80 off 100, and bowling figures of 0 for 35 can be more effective than 4 for 75.

Prediction

In most tournament build-ups New Zealand are referenced politely, accurately, patronisingly, or all-of-the-above, with euphemisms such as "could threaten on their day" or "a squad of honest toilers". Given the team culture, particularly with a once-in-a-generation opportunity at home, a place in the final cannot be dismissed despite their perennial low ranking.

World Cup stats

• The 148-run partnership between Roger Twose and Chris Cairns to help defeat Australia in Cardiff in 1999 remains a tournament record for the fifth wicket
• James Franklin's strike-rate of 387.50 (31 off eight dot-less balls) against Canada in Mumbai in 2011 is the highest ever for any player scoring over 25 runs in an innings
• Martin Snedden's concession of 105 runs against England at The Oval in 1983 remains the highest by a bowler in a World Cup, albeit off 12 rather than ten overs

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Theme Song

"High Hopes" - Pink Floyd