Skipper Fleming is also insisting his team will not allow the prize of a final looming against Australia or South Africa to deflect them from what needs to be done at Sabina Park.

The Kiwis have learned from recent experience - they suffered an embarrassing 215-run defeat against the Aussies just three days ago - that they must not get ahead of themselves.

They have to look much further back to trace any pedigree in the last four of the World Cup - Fleming was captain when they lost heavily to Pakistan in 1999 - but the difference this time is that it is a long-term plan which the Kiwis are close to realising.

"We got to the semi in 1999 on the back of a couple of excellent performances from (Geoff) Allott and (Roger) Twose," Fleming said.

"But I'm not sure we really believed we should be there. The difference this year is we planned to be here.

"The attitude is very different. We know what to expect from Sri Lanka and feel worthy of being here.

"From a confidence point of view that's quite a big shift.

"Tomorrow is one of the biggest games this team will play. We know we are very close to something special, so the pressure is on."

Fleming is determined, however, after the widest-margin defeat in his country's history last Friday that they will not make themselves vulnerable again by starting to dream of the final.

"When you get to the semi-final of a World Cup, it's almost holding the guys back," he added.

"With the Australia match, we all realised we had our minds focused on the semi-final and we are a team that's got to be incredibly focused on one game at a time rather than looking too far ahead.

"We paid the price for that and we won't be doing the same here, even though the final is so close."

Having lost to Sri Lanka by six wickets in a Super Eight match this month - and drawn 2-2 on home ground at the turn of the year - New Zealand are not about to under-estimate their opponents.

"We know that to beat Sri Lanka we have to be above anything we've done so far," Fleming said.

"It is just going to be a case of dealing with anxiety and nerves because it is unknown territory for a New Zealand side to go past this point.

"That's probably going to be one of the biggest challenges."

Fleming is well aware of Sri Lanka's strengths.

The unorthodox pace of Lasith Malinga, the top-order batting of Sanath Jayasuriya and the danger posed by Muttiah Muralitharan's world-beating off-spin are all on his mind.

But he believes he has spotted a possible weakness too.

"I guess one area they'd like is more hitting power," he said, noting there is no all-rounder lurking in the middle order to compare with those available to South Africa or Australia.

"If we can take wickets at the top you are not going to be faced with a scenario where the (Andrew) Symonds and (Shane) Watsons or the (Mark) Bouchers and (Shaun) Pollocks come in to try to destroy you in the last 10 overs.

"Potentially they are not as strong in that area. It's just exposing that area that's tough."

New Zealand's best chance of doing that lies with strike bowler Shane Bond, who is available again after missing the match against Australia because of a stomach upset.

They also have bowling all-rounder Jacob Oram back after resting his bruised heel and seem likely to pick Jeetan Patel as a second spin option alongside Daniel Vettori in an attack featuring just two frontline seamers in Bond and James Franklin.

All-rounder Scott Styris suffered a minor finger injury and sat out the remainder of training today but is thought likely to be fit for Tuesday.

Teams:

Sri Lanka (from): M Jayawardene (captain), S Jayasuriya, U Tharanga, K Sangakkara (wkt), C Silva, T Dilshan, R Arnold, C Vaas, F Maharoof, L Malinga, M Muralitharan, D Fernando.

New Zealand (from): S Fleming (captain), P Fulton, R Taylor, S Styris, C McMillan, J Oram, B McCullum (wkt), J Franklin, D Vettori, J Patel, S Bond, M Mason.

Umpires: S Taufel (Aus) and R Koertzen (Rsa).

Third umpire: D Harper (Aus).

Fourth umpire: A Rauf (Pkn).

Match referee: M Procter (Rsa).