New Zealand drew first blood when beating India in their CricInfo Women's World Cup game 10 days ago but both teams know that counts for nothing in the sudden death semi-final they will play on BIL Oval at Lincoln University tomorrow.

New Zealand have struggled sufficiently against India over the last five years to be wary in the lead-up to the game while India came to tournament confident they could make the final and have shown enough to ensure a closer match than South Africa managed when thrashed by nine wickets in the first semi-final yesterday.

India have been working on the fielding which let them down in the earlier game while New Zealand have had several days away from the tournament and have returned refreshed for the business end of the competition.

Indian captain Anju Jain acknowledged that her side had severely missed batsman Mithali Raj who was hospitalised with a chronic infection. However, the side was hopeful she would rejoin them before the game tomorrow.

That could be just the inspiration the side needs.

But Jain is in no doubt what her side must do to beat New Zealand.

"We have to improve our fielding. We dropped too many catches against New Zealand last time."

One of the most costly was New Zealand all-rounder Haidee Tiffen who went on to score a very quick half century which boosted the whole side's effort.

"We've been working on our fielding for three or four days," Jain said.

"But we have to do everything well, it depends on our all-round performance. If they bat first we have to contain them to around 200.

"It is going to be a good game," she said.

There is a high expectation of the side doing well in the match with messages of support not only from India, but from all around the world.

"We are confident after making it into the semi-finals," she said.

New Zealand was keen to get back into action after a good break since its last game on Thursday.

"It was nice to freshen up and get out of Lincoln but the break may have been one or two days too long," skipper Emily Drumm said.

"We are trying not to think about the final. We know we will have to play fairly well to beat India.

"They didn't really chase a total, against either Australia or us in their earlier games, and you never know what they have up their sleeve. They have some useful spinners, some good pace bowlers and their top order can be really good.

"We know we face some hard work and India has been something of a bogey side for us," she said.

"It would be an absolutely stupid mistake to think it's a foregone conclusion.

"We are focused on this one game because nothing else matters. If we don't and we lose, we go home.

"India is a good side, and crafty. They've played their cards pretty close to their chest and tried to make it look like they're not good enough.

"They've saved a bit, that's the sort of side they are. That's the way they play their cricket, both men's and women's.

"They can bring a few elements into the game that you don't normally expect," she said.

Jain said in the earlier game the side lost too many wickets too early and just concentrated on playing out the full 50 overs.

That could be a crucial element tomorrow as the game has the potential to be decided at the wire.

The teams will be selected from:

New Zealand - Emily Drumm (captain), Debbie Hockley, Catherine Campbell, Rebecca Rolls, Anna O'Leary, Haidee Tiffen, Paula Flannery, Katrina Keenan, Erin McDonald, Clare Nicholson, Rachel Pullar, Kathryn Ramel, Emily Travers, Helen Watson.

India - Anju Jain (captain), Anjum Chopra, Hemlata Kala, Neetu David, Arundhati Kirkire, Sunita Kanajia, Smitha Harikrishna, Deepa Kulkarni, Chanderkanta Kaul, Rupanjali Shastri, Renu Margrate, Kavita Roy, Purnima Rau.

© CricInfo