David Leggat: Victory tonight will help long term goals

New Zealand captain Ross Taylor skips during a practice session in Dambulla, Sri Lanka. Photo / AP

More by accident than design, New Zealand have a chance to put themselves in the right frame of mind for the summer's World Cup.

New Zealand play India tonight in the last group game of their tri-series tournament in Sri Lanka. Win it and they advance to Saturday night's final against the hosts. Lose and they head home.

Therefore, it should be treated as a game they must win to stay alive, as opposed to one from which they'd merely like to emerge victorious.

And getting a dose of that tough-minded philosophy won't do them any harm at the start of a busy international season.

Earlier in the tournament at Dambulla, north of Colombo, New Zealand's second game against the hosts was washed out.

That meant two points apiece and with India being walloped by Sri Lanka on Sunday, puts New Zealand second on seven points, two more than India.

While another washout would put New Zealand into the final, it's unwise to bank on that a second time.

However tonight's game gives New Zealand the chance to replicate events which might occur at the World Cup on the sub-continent in February-March.

At some stage there, they will reach a point where a juggling of scenarios might mean they can still progress despite a loss.

Equally, they will eventually come to a situation where victory is the only possible outcome to stay alive.

So tonight is an opportunity to put themselves in a state of readiness which should serve them well come the World Cup.

New Zealand will be aware India have been flaky of late.

In their first game last week, Ross Taylor and Scott Styris' fine batting set up a 200-run win as the Indian batsmen mustered just 88.

But after beating Sri Lanka by six wickets, courtesy of an unbeaten 99 from Virendar Sehwag, India put their other mask on again, being rolled for only 103 by the hosts on Sunday night.

Depending on your perspective, that means they should be ripe for beating, or are due to once again show their classier face.

New Zealand don't win many tournaments. Even if, in the larger picture, this is small beer a win would mean a big international season starting on the right note.

They are ranked fourth in ODIs, but three points cover teams from second to sixth.

New Zealand are missing their two senior players, captain Dan Vettori and wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum. Proving that games can be won without two of their most influential figures won't hurt the self-esteem either.