Cricket World Cup: No one is stopping us - South Africa captain AB de Villiers

South African captain AB de Villiers speaks ahead of tomorrow's semifinal. Photo / Brett Phibbs

South African skipper AB de Villiers is adamant that the winning of the World Cup for the first time is within their grasp.

Neither South Africa nor New Zealand have made a World Cup final. One will clinch a place in the showdown in Melbourne next Sunday when they clash in their semifinal at Eden Park tomorrow.

"I believe if we play to our full potential, no one is going to stop us in this tournament," he said today.

"We have to make sure the players are confident mentally and fresh physically. If we play a good game we will come out on top."

South Africa won their two most recent ODIs against New Zealand at Mt Maunganui last October, and they are coming off a fine performance in crushing Sri Lanka in their quarter-final in Sydney last week.

They have a fully fit squad to choose from and de Villiers hinted that key seamer Vernon Philander might return in place of luckless Kyle Abbott.

The two group games South Africa lost, to India and Pakistan, won't prey on their minds. But de Villiers didn't feel they have acted as a sharpening of the focus for his players.

"I don't feel proud of the two losses but the nice thing is that's something in the past. I feel the team is in a good space and we've got a lot of reasons to be confident."

As for New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum, he will have a changed XI tomorrow, with seamer Adam Milne rubbed out with a heel injury. Canterbury's ODI international Matt Henry has taken his place.

New Zealand won't reveal who will take Milne's place until tomorrow. The three options are left armer Mitchell McClenaghan, veteran Kyle Mills or Henry.

"He's been outstanding in the third seamer role throughout the tournament," McCullum said of Milne. ''Injuries happen and we've got some good cover in squad. He'll remain part of the squad as a good team man."

McCullum played down any nerves he's feeling and quipped that he was sure he'd sleep just fine tonight.

"I find being too stressed out doesn't help too much.

"Some guys get nervous. But the general feeling is they can't wait to get out there and test our skills against a very good South African team, and in a crunch game.

"The way we dealt with expectations and pressures in the last game (the quarter-final win over the West Indies) should hold us in reasonable stead."

And McCullum had high praise for the Wellington double century maker Martin Guptill and his level-headed approach.

"It's something 'Gup' has been working on the last 18 months, being emotionally stable, whether he has a good or bad day. We understand the game throws up its ups and downs but you need to remain reasonably level.

"The way 'Gup' was able to back up a good 100 against Bangladesh and then to be able to turn in such an amazing performance as he did the other day shows he certainly possesses those charateristics.

"He's been a huge player for us in this tournament and I'd suggest he is not quite done yet."

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