South Africa's newest international captain AB de Villiers yesterday scotched the idea that his team is suspect under pressure.
When it last played New Zealand, in the World Cup quarterfinal at Dhaka last March, South Africa was cruising at 121 for three, chasing New Zealand's 221 for eight.
But it dropped the ball under serious New Zealand pressure.
Indeed de Villiers' runout, when set on 35, courtesy of a smart piece of work by fielder Martin Guptill precipitated a slide which had it tumble to be all out for 172.
Throw that in with other perceived mental stumbles, such as the World Cup semifinal against Australia in 1999, and the suspicions that South Africa might be susceptible when the heat is turned up arise.
De Villiers, who turns 28 on Friday when the teams clash in their opening T20 in Wellington, has a different view, and he is ready for any verbal jousts New Zealand might be keen to initiate.
"There's always a little bit of this and that when we play New Zealand, especially last time at the World Cup," de Villiers, who took over the limited-overs side for the five ODIs against Sri Lanka last month, said yesterday.
"I'm sure the games will be played very hard on the field, but we're friends with most of the guys off the field [so] it's nothing too serious."
New Zealand's T20 squad will remain together for at least the first two internationals against South Africa this week.
The group of 14, which plays Zimbabwe in its final tour game in Hamilton tonight, will be reassessed after the second T20 - also coincidentally at Seddon Park next Sunday - before the third game at Eden Park on Wednesday.
Opener Martin Guptill is being rested for tonight's game, as is all-rounder Jacob Oram, who has a slightly tight calf.
Second T20 international
Seddon Park, Hamilton, 7pm today
New Zealand: (from) Brendon McCullum (c), Rob Nicol, Kane Williamson, James Franklin, Colin de Grandhomme, Andrew Ellis, Nathan McCullum, Doug Bracewell, Ronnie Hira, Kyle Mills, Tim Southee, Michael Bates.
Zimbabwe: (from) Brendan Taylor (c), Hamilton Masakadza, Tino Mawoyo, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Forster Mutizwa, Regis Chakabva, Malcolm Waller, Tatenda Taibu, Elton Chigumbura, Shingi Masakadza, Ray Price, Prosper Utseya, Keegan Meth, Kyle Jarvis, Brian Vitori.
