Captain Justo Villar is warning Paraguay to be wary of the physical strength of New Zealand in Thursday's decisive World Cup Group F match.

Goalkeeper Villar said: "A large part of their game is based on their robustness," while Paraguay will rely on its more technical approach.

"That's what they try to capitalise on. I've talked with my teammates about that," Villar said.

"(Coach Gerardo Martino) knows what to do and he'll instruct us properly before the match."

Paraguay leads the group with four points and needs only a draw to reach the last 16. New Zealand must win to be certain of advancing, or rely on Slovakia upstaging defending champion Italy.

Martino agreed that New Zealand had "a very different style" from the other opponents in the group.

"They rely on their physical strength," Martino said.

"We have a lot of respect for that and we'll need to find a way to play our own game. We face a difficult match."

Paraguay might be able to start in its strongest lineup. Only defender Antolin Alcazar, who scored in the team's 1-1 opening draw with Italy, was doubtful.

"We have to wait and see," Martino said. "His ankle injury progresses well. But it's a decisive match so I am not going to take any risks."

Martino had been busy scouting New Zealand since being drawn into the same group.

"If you asked me a long time ago, I wouldn't have known a lot about New Zealand's football," Martino said. "But it's six months now (since the draw) so we used the time to get as much information as possible. But that doesn't guarantee us anything at all."

Martino was pleased with results so far, having gained a draw against Italy and beating Slovakia, but said that would all be "useless" if it failed to reach the knockout stage.

"We did well but we have not nothing really achieved as of yet," he said. "It all means nothing if we don't qualify."

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