New Zealand vs South Africa quarter-final today

MUMBAI: South Africa enjoy the luxury of choice before they settled on a team for today's world quarter-final against New Zealand in Dhaka Cup.

South Africans have spent the last 10 days in Bangladesh after finishing first in its qualifying group with enough time to decide how they will fight against the potential threat of the order in New Zealand top.

New Zealand have strikers of the ball in dangerous Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor and Scott Styris good finisher as they demonstrated in the group victory over Pakistan.

With that in mind, South Africa can enter the match with three spinners frontline to take the pace of the ball and operate a land where the demolished West Indies spinners Pakistan Wednesday. AB de Villiers can take the gloves instead of Morne van Wyk.

South African captain Graeme Smith would not be drawn on Thursday when he was asked whether a team with the best opening bowlers in the competition could be tempted to give the ball to a new spinner.

"Regarding the tactical things, I thought of a number of things this week," he replied. "We've done a video, a little planning, we'll see what happens tomorrow."

It was, however, willing to talk at length about the qualities Robin Peterson, Johan Botha Imran Tahir and bring to the team in their contrasting styles.

"The only thing on our three spinners is that they are very different. They all performed different roles at different times. The versatility of the guys was great," he said.

"They worked well together. Imran is certainly the best option to attack us. To get him back in the lineup that adds a little more for me as captain. "

Leg-spinner Tahir missed two of the group in South Africa is a fractured thumb, giving the possibility of off-spinner Johan Botha, who not long ago was South Africa's premier spinner one day.

"Imran was an asset for us to have a pot of attack," said Smith. "The only thing on our three spinners is that they are very different.

New Zealand on the ground in a pan movement themselves captain Daniel Vettori, one-day bowler in the world the highest ranked.

Vettori, who missed the final two group games after straining a ligament in his right knee, is a gritty, combative character who turned into a genuine international all-rounder.

New Zealanders hate losing to South Africa or on the rugby field or the cricket ground and the Kiwis finished on top in matches between the two countries in the last two World Cups.

"I think South Africa were one of the teams in world cricket as long, we know it's gonna be a huge challenge," said Vettori.

"But I think like any captain would say that's what we do tomorrow. We can play well and we give ourselves a chance."