New Zealand was not expecting too many changes in pitch conditions despite a shift from Guyana to Barbados for the World Twenty20 championship.
Coach Mark Greatbatch said the pitch might be slightly faster, but it would still be a good surface and the scores might be slightly higher than in Guyana.
Nothing changed for New Zealand in its approach to the Super Eights section of the championship, least of all the likely make-up of the side. Players had been performing well and it was only fair to allow them to continue in their roles, he said.
Greatbatch said it had been pleasing to get through the first stage of the tournament but now with South Africa, Pakistan and England it was a case of the side continuing on its winning way.
The side was unbeaten since its win over Australia in the second Twenty20 international in New Zealand's summer.
"Winning is a habit and I think we are going to have to up our ante with our batting, it's going to be a key area against South Africa," he said.
"Pace is probably what they will hit us with and we've got have a strategy to go hard at them and take on some of their best players like Dale Steyn and [Jacques] Kallis and [Alby] Morkel, so it's a great challenge and we are looking forward to it," he said.
The top four were dynamic players, the types of batsmen needed to succeed in Twenty20 cricket and so far one or two players had stood up with world-class efforts, including Nathan McCullum, twice with the bat on the first occasion and the ball second time around while Scott Styris had impressed and Jesse Ryder was starting to show some form.
"So it's a matter of other guys stepping up as well," he said.
Greatbatch said the South African side was well led by Graeme Smith and getting him early would be a big bonus for the New Zealanders.