There has been a sense of inevitability from the first whistle at the World Cup that the Kangaroos and Kiwis would meet in the semi-final, although someone forgot to tell Fiji, who very nearly spoiled the party.
The Bati pushed the Kiwis to the absolute limit in an epic quarter-final in Hull before the 2008 champions prevailed 24-18 while Australia had an easier passage in their 48-4 win over Lebanon.
That form guide goes out the window on Saturday morning (AEDT) when the two rugby league powerhouses square off for the 16th time at a World Cup, looking to win their way through to the decider against England or PNG at Old Trafford.
Both sides are stacked with superstars, both sides know what it takes to win big games on the big stage, although the Kangaroos hold a 14-1 advantage in World Cup clashes between the two nations.
The Kiwis may well be more battle hardened having been taken to the wire by the brave Bati and they would love nothing better than to send the defending champions packing.
The Kangaroos were below their best against the Cedars but coach Mal Meninga will have fine tuned his combinations and have his men ready to peak for their most important match since the 2017 World Cup final.
Match: Australia v New Zealand
Semi Finals -
home Team
Australia
away Team
New Zealand
Venue: Elland Road, Leeds
Team News
Kangaroos: The experienced Ben Hunt starts the game at hooker and Harry Grant will come from the bench. Joining Grant on the interchange are Patrick Carrigan, Cameron Murray and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui with Daly Cherry-Evans 18th Man. Prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard is back after missing the quarter-final win over Lebanon with a cork while skipper James Tedesco is good to go after sitting out the second half against the Cedars as a precaution after copping a cork above his knee.
Kiwis: Moses Leota comes into the squad at the expense of fellow Panther Scott Sorensen. Leota will come from the bench in just his second World Cup appearance due to groin and pectoral injuries. Veteran prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has served his one-game suspension for a high tackle but is still battling a hamstring injury and will only play again if the Kiwis make the final. Kenny Bromwich is 18th Man.
Match: Australia v New Zealand
Semi Finals -
home Team
Australia
away Team
New Zealand
Venue: Elland Road, Leeds
Key Matchup
Nathan Cleary v Jahrome Hughes
The Panthers supremo may have been a little off with his goal-kicking against the Cedars but he looks right at home calling the shots for the star studded Kangaroos side. He has scored 58 points in three Tests to sit equal top of the point-scoring table with England's Tommy Makinson, and has dished off five try assists as his combination builds with Cameron Munster, James Tedesco and Harry Grant.
For Hughes, the tournament began slowly as he sat out the first two games with a thigh strain, but the classy Storm playmaker has quickly found his groove and looms as the main danger to the Kangaroos with his sharp footwork and brilliant instincts. He has already racked up 23 tackle breaks in two games as well as four try assists, and his ability to exploit even a momentary defensive lapse will have the Kangaroos on high alert.
Stat Attack
Cameron Munster sits on top of the try assist tally with eight in his three games while Daly Cherry-Evans is also high on the list with six try assists. The best of the Kiwis is Brandon Smith with five.
Roosters superstars Joey Manu and James Tedesco are first and second for tackle breaks at the World Cup. Manu has busted 53 tackles in four games for the Kiwis while Tedesco has 39 in four games for the Kangaroos.
Josh Addo-Carr has 11 tries to his name so far at this year's World Cup, putting him just one away from teammate Valentine Holmes for the most tries scored by a player at a single edition of the tournament. Holmes set the current record of 12 tries during Australia's 2017 World Cup campaign.
Match: Australia v New Zealand
Semi Finals -
home Team
Australia
away Team
New Zealand
Venue: Elland Road, Leeds
