New Zealand backing their Black Caps

Everywhere the Black Caps have travelled through the World Cup, full houses, fervent support and a growing sense of expectation has followed.

A nation of people who generally reserve their sporting mania for their rugby heroes have taken the Black Caps to heart, embracing their cricket team and the talented players who hope to deliver a maiden World Cup trophy on Sunday.

From Hamilton to Hagley Oval, Napier to Nelson, New Zealand have played in front of capacity crowds in full voice.

At public appearances, long lines have stretched along city streets as fans patiently waited for a chance to get up close and personal with their heroes.

The country is in the grip of World Cup fever. The atmosphere at games throughout New Zealand has taken hold and players and pundits, past and present, have never seen the likes of it before.

The fans are backing their Black Caps and the Black Caps are backing themselves.

Last time they played in a World Cup, New Zealand made the semi-final, but did so after finishing fourth in their pool and upsetting the top-ranked Proteas in the quarter-finals.

This time, they're rated a strong chance to take home the trophy, in a radical change of circumstance from where New Zealand were as recently as late 2013, when the Black Caps lost a one-day series to Bangladesh 0-3 and were ranked eighth in the ODI rankings.

"It wasn't so long ago that we weren't in a great space in international cricket," skipper Brendon McCullum said on Saturday.

"We went through some pretty tough times and that led us to strip things right back and to be totally honest about where we sat in the international game … (and) also to develop and understand the style of play we wanted to play.

"I guess at that point in time we stripped it all back and we started to try to plot our way forward."

The momentum started last summer, when New Zealand completed a 4-0 ODI series victory at home against India in January 2014.

It continued this summer, when the Black Caps dominated Sri Lanka with a 2-0 Test series win before taking out the ODI series 4-2.

Two wins from two ODIs against Pakistan followed, before a dominant victory against Sri Lanka started the Black Caps' World Cup campaign proper.

In an emotional start to the tournament in Christchurch – hosting its first major sporting event since the devastating 2011 earthquakes – New Zealand trumped Sri Lanka by 98 runs, courtesy of Corey Anderson's 75 off 46 balls and 2-18.

Heroics from Brendon McCullum, Trent Boult and Tim Southee in a remarkable victory against England in Wellington increased the home nation's hopes, before an incredibly close victory over Australia had the fans in raptures.

An undefeated group stage and a convincing quarter-final victory over West Indies – featuring the double-century heroics of Martin Guptill – followed.

Prior to this 2015 World Cup, 10 tournaments produced six semi-final defeats.

Perhaps none hurt more than the 1992 semi-final loss to England at Eden Park, when tournament favourite New Zealand were knocked out by Pakistan, which chased 263 with four wickets in hand and one over to spare.

Now, the Black Caps have advanced to the 'big dance' for the first time.

The semi-final victory did not come easily for New Zealand – the match in Auckland was one of the most intense and emotional matches in memory – but it was fitting, given the brave and bold way the Black Caps have approached this campaign.

Australia have played in six finals, winning four, but this will not faze New Zealand. Earlier in the tournament, McCullum said his team had the potential to beat anyone.

"I think we've earned some respect around the world in the last 12 to 18 months through the way that we have, not just performed, but I think the way that we have carried ourselves as a team and the brand of cricket that we are trying to play," he said.

The Black Caps biggest challenge yet is also their first away from home soil this tournament, but do not expect an occasion like the World Cup final to change the way they are approaching their cricket.

"One of the things which we've worked really hard on over the last six to 12 months is being able to make sure we still head into pressure games with the same level of preparation and confidence and understanding of what works for us, so we can go out there and exhibit our skills," McCullum said before the semi-final.

"We want to play that brand of (aggressive) cricket. We've identified that that's what's going to make us a team which is going to be tough to beat. I can't see that changing."

New Zealand's strong results through the Cup are evidence they are a big chance to topple Australia.

Certainly, a nation believes and so do the players and coaches.

"There is no challenge which is insurmountable," McCullum said at his pre-final press conference.

"I know tomorrow we'll still remain authentic to how we play.

"We'll play an aggressive brand of cricket with bat and ball in the field. We'll play with the humility which we've played with throughout this campaign as well."