Except for running out in an all black strip for the first time at the soccer World Cup, the All Whites will go into their decisive group match against Paraguay on Friday morning (AEST) with no changes to a recipe that had worked so far.

New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert told a press conference in Johannesburg overnight the side would be sticking to their strengths for a battle in which a top 16 spot is at stake after earning 1-1 draws with Slovakia and Italy.

There would be no changes to his starting line-up, no holding back from the physical style of his side and, as with Italy, the Paraguay defence could expect an aerial bombardment, Herbert said.

Herbert also brushed aside any thought his inspirational team leader Ryan Nelsen was not at peak fitness.

The central defender sat out the team's training session at Peter Mokaba Stadium but that was only a "precautionary measure because Nelsen had a tummy bug".

"There is no problem. Ryan will start," Herbert said.

In naming an unchanged side, Herbert said the teams fans could expect nothing less than what they had shown in the tournament thus far.

"There is an amazing strength in this group (of players) - they have a common goal and are strongly focused on that.

"Win lose or draw, the effort and contribution of the team (against Paraguay) will be right up there again.

"We haven't been on the world stage for 28 years and we wanted to be credible and get results - but we have a unique opportunity of taking it one step further.

"I don't think we will hold back. I think we are competitive - nothing else and no different to a lot of sides at this World Cup.

"Our aerial dominance has caused a lot of teams problems and hopefully we can do it again.

"Paraguay have some wonderful players but so did Italy and they got little from us. It is a fantastic position to be in and we will wake up tomorrow really looking forward to it."

There had been no reason for changing the line-up as all players were fit and looking good.

Asked about the change to a black strip instead of their usual all white outfit from the first two games. Herbert said: "That's no problem - we are not superstitious."

New Zealand have two points from draws against Slovakia and Italy and can progress to the round of 16 with a win over Paraguay, who have four points. Italy have two points and Slovakia one point ahead of their last group match.

Ivan Vicelich, New Zealand's most-capped player who starts in his 69th game against Paraguay, said it would be "no miracle" if his team made the top 16 round.

"As a team, we grew a lot over the last four years. We have a lot of confidence when we go out on the pitch. We now know what we're capable of," he said.

It would be "a very, very tough match" against Paraguay.

"They did very well in qualifying, they've done very well here as well," he said. "We must play with the same fighting spirit we showed in the previous games."

Herbert said he faced no problems in keeping the team focused after their surprising start to the tournament.

"We always had that next match in the back of our minds," Herbert said. "There is so much reality in this team, it's such a down-to-earth group. Really unique, I have never seen that before."

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