World Cup surprise packets New Zealand won't temper the style of big centre forward Rory Fallon when they take on group leader Paraguay in the biggest match of their lives.

At stake will be a place in the round of 16, after New Zealand defied all predictions to force 1-1 draws in their first two Group F matches against Slovakia and defending champions Italy.

A win for the All Whites in Polokwane on Thursday (Friday AEST) would see them to five points, qualifying for the next round. Another draw could also be enough, depending on the result of the Italy-Slovakia match.

Coach Ricki Herbert firmly dismissed any thought of reining in Fallon who is a key figure in the All Whites' match strategy, getting on the end of aerial deliveries into the opposition box.

Italy countered his height by collapsing in anguish every time he challenged for the ball, landing Fallon in yellow card trouble and prompting Herbert to sub him early in the second half.

Had Fallon had received another yellow card, he would have been sent off and banned for the Paraguay match.

Guatemalan referee Carlos Butres fell for the Italian antics, including a dive by striker Daniele De Rossi which led to the reigning world champions' equaliser from a penalty.

That still rankled with Herbert, who said at a press conference in Johannesburg all he could hope for was consistency from Paraguay match officials.

"We were on the thick end of the reffing, it was a rough night (against Italy)," Herbert said.

"Rory is a handful and quite a target (for the other teams) - we got a South American side (to play) and they are quite clever, so we've just got to be careful how we do things.

"I took Rory off (for Chris Wood) because we needed him for this last game.

"We are not going to get him to change - he is a strong powerful boy in the air and we need that approach. If you start dampen people's strengths, it would be best to sit him on the bench, to be honest.

"I just hope we get refereeing that is consistent across the board."

Paraguay, who also drew 1-1 with Italy never needed to hit top gear in their 2-0 win over Slovakia, something Herbert was aware off.

"They are a lot more passionate, a lot more forthright in their approach and they will press hard. You could say that they are a European (style) team of South America."

Herbert gave every indication he was not going to tinker with a starting line-up that had captured the imagination of the world with their impressive results thus far.

Goalkeeper Glen Moss, available again after a four-match suspension, would not usurp Mark Paston whose heroics against Italy stamped him as world class.

And combative midfielder Tim Brown's dreams of a World Cup appearance was unlikely to come true, despite his rapid recovery from a severe shoulder injury suffered against Australia last month.

Brown was not considered fully fit after surgery so the experienced Ivan Vicelich would continue to play the steadying influence alongside playmaker Simon Elliott.

"We have seen a team grown in stature against some of the best teams in the world now - they have been given a licence to express themselves, to play," Herbert said.

"We are going to be under the pump sometimes, of course we are, but I couldn't be prouder than these guys.

"There is nothing to fear playing Paraguay. What a wonderful story for us to think that we have even got points (at a finals series) and still be right in it. We are masters of our own destiny really."

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