Centurion, Oct. 4: Even as Australia and New Zealand take their long-standing rivalry that spans the Tasman Sea to a new frontier when they meet in the final of the 2009 Champions Trophy at the SuperSport Park here on Monday, the threat of rain hangs over the encounter.

While the weather gods were benign in allowing the first semi-final here to go the full distance despite threatening not to do so, the forecast for Monday says showers are likely in the evening, which will come as a dampener to rival captains — Ricky Ponting and Daniel Vettori’s plans.

Both are eager to get at the other and while undefeated Australia are the form team here, the Black Caps have gone about reaching the trophy playoff stage with quiet efficiency. New Zealand and Australia are both past champions, the former wining it in 2000 at Nairobi and the Aussies winners in 2006 at Mumbai.

Just going by performances here, the defending champions start the favourites. Barring a blip against the West Indies at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, Ponting’s squad have been a dominant force. This is something Vettori is very aware of.

"They have been very impressive," he said ahead of nets here on Sunday. "Their top order has been outstanding and the way we succeed is to try and dismiss their top order which won’t be easy because they play so well."

Ponting leads the run-scorers’ charts with 287 runs, inclusive of the century he creamed off England’s attack while Shane Watson too ran into form in that game with his chalk-and-cheese 136 not out.

Opener and wicketkeeper Tim Paine is at hand to start Australia off briskly and the dangerous Mike Hussey, Cameron White and Mitchell Johnson follow down the order.

The Kiwis, on the other hand, have not been very well served by their batsmen. Vettori has had to come in and play two significant innings to pull his side out of trouble — against England in the league phase and again on Saturday when he put on 104 for the fifth wicket with Grant Elliott against Pakistan.

At the top of the order, Brendon McCullum has the licence to go after the bowling but neither he nor the equally aggressive Martin Guptill has really fired here. The Black Caps will also miss Jesse Ryder and Jacob Oram, both having flown home with injury and Vettori will be pleased with Elliott’s form, even though the Johannesburg-born all-rounder has a damaged thumb.

With the ball too, Australia have the edge though Vettori has been among the top three bowlers here. Brett Lee is back to his fast and accurate self and has Johnson, Peter Siddle and James Hopes operating behind him, besides the off-spin of Nathan Hauritz.

New Zealand have fewer stars but their performances have been workmanlike. While the rejuvenated Shane Bond has struck early in nearly every game, Kyle Mills, Ian Butler and James Franklin have been steady. Indeed Butler walked away from Saturday’s semi-final with career-best figures of 4/44 against Pakistan.

The thing is, to beat Australia, being merely workmanlike may not be enough, though Ponting conceded after nets on Sunday they were not a side to be taken lightly. "They play to their strengths and they do it very well. They’re a very disciplined side and have been for a number of years," he pointed out.

Monday promises to be a battle between Aussie firepower and Kiwi self-belief. The former are heavy favourites, but almost everyone who has under-estimated the Black Caps has paid the price, and who is to say the 2000 champions will not find it in them to stop the march of the title holders.

Not only is this the only time Australia and New Zealand are facing off in the final of a major tournament away from home, it is also the first time since 1987 — when Australia beat England at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata — that no team from Asia or the West Indies side will be contesting the final of either the World Cup or the Champions Trophy.