Current attack Kiwis' best ever: Hadlee

Australia will confront the greatest opening-ball combination New Zealand have ever fielded when the two sides meet on Saturday, according to Sir Richard Hadlee.

Hadlee claimed 431 Test wickets and 158 ODI scalps in a stellar career that ended with a knighthood in 1990.

Hadlee may be considered the country's greatest-ever cricketer, but he says he never formed a partnership as potent as Tim Southee and Trent Boult.

"It's our best ever new-ball combination," Hadlee said in Auckland.

"They're wicket-taking bowlers and they've proved that successfully, particularly over the last 12 months.

"They've come of age, they're at the top of their game and they're young and going to be around for a long time."

Southee, 26, snared seven wickets in England's embarrassing loss last week.

Boult is 25 and Saturday's World Cup clash will be the first time he faces Australia in a one-dayer.

Much has been made of the fact there will be a sense of the unknown for the visitors this weekend, given they haven't toured New Zealand since 2010.

However, Shane Watson felt the Indian Premier League ensured his team would be up to speed on the opposition's quicks.

"They're not strangers," Watson said.

"That's one great thing about the IPL. To be able to get to know opposition guys you normally wouldn't really mix with.

"Tim Southee is in my IPL team ... I didn't really have a high opinion of him playing against him, but knowing him now I realise he's a very nice guy."

Watson dubbed Southee a "highly-skilled bowler".

"He had a great game against England so it's going to be a great challenge," he said.

Earlier in the week, David Warner rated the Black Caps' attack as being as good as any in the world.

Local press have been comparing the upcoming match to the 1992 tournament opener at the same venue, where New Zealand beat Australia by 37 runs.

Hadlee felt it was unfair because "these lads are probably the best ever New Zealand one-day side we've put together for a World Cup".