New Zealand swing king Tim Southee says the Kiwis are ready to cut Australia down to size in the Cricket World Cup final on Sunday . Southee , who has taken 15 wickets for Brendon McCullum ’ s men in this tournament , insists his team are riding high on confidence and ready to upset their ‘ big brothers ’ . As the co-hosts prepare to do battle at the MCG , Southee said : ‘ The rivalry between Australia and New Zealand does cover every sport and is massive . Tim Southee is relishing the prospect of facing Australia in the World Cup final on Sunday . ‘ We ’ re probably seen as the little brothers from across the ditch and we do quite well to compete . ‘ Australia have had the wood on us in cricket over the last few years but we ’ re slowly starting to even that ledger . ‘ But as a kid growing up it was always Australia you wanted to play against . ‘ You always want to have one up over the big brothers. ’ Before their thrilling victory over South Africa , New Zealand had lost each of their six World Cup semi-finals . But they have already beaten the Aussies in the outstanding match of the pool stage , with the Kiwis claiming a one-wicket win in Auckland . New Zealand practiced at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday in preparation for the final . McCullum ’ s enterprising team have sparked a sporting buzz which is normally reserved for the All Blacks , although the final will be their first away game of the competition . Expatriated Kiwis have travelled from all over the world to Melbourne , while Air New Zealand has chartered extra flights from Auckland . Southee ( left ) said : ‘ We get to do what a lot of people that have gone before us haven ’ t been able to do , and they are now behind us . The support from back home has been amazing . I can ’ t explain what it ’ s like and what it has done for the team . Daniel Vettori will play his last ever ODI for New Zealand on Sunday in the World Cup final . ‘ It ’ s a dream come true for all the guys . As a kid , you grow up either wanting to be an All Black or a Black Cap and the guys are very excited to fulfil a childhood dream . ‘ Brendon speaks a lot about it being the time of our lives . We never want it to end . One more big push and I ’ m sure it ’ s something the guys will remember forever . ‘ It doesn ’ t get any better than taking on Australia in Australia at one of the best cricket grounds in the world. ’ Australia captain Michael Clarke admitted after his side ’ s semi-final victory over India that defeat to New Zealand last month was ‘ a kick up the backside ’ . Clarke said : ‘ The fact that the two hosting nations are in the final is extremely special . ‘ There ’ s a great mutual respect between both teams . New Zealand will take confidence that they ’ ve beaten us in the tournament . ‘ But that was the turning point in this tournament for the Australian team . ‘ The boys have got out of bed every single day to try to become better and you ’ ve seen that in our results . We ’ ve been improving every game and that will hold us in really good stead. ’ New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson practices his football skills during the training session in Melbourne . New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum in the nets just outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground . Grant Elliott has a throw at the stumps in a fielding drill during New Zealand 's practice session . New Zealand captain McCullum and fast bowler Trent Boult share a joke during their practice session . New Zealand 's lethal opening duo of Boult ( left ) and Southee ( right ) practice in Melbourne . The 100,000 capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground will provide a fitting venue for Sunday 's showpiece .
mark Southee says the Kiwis are ready to cut Australia down to scratch . Southee claims his team are still high on form ahead of final . they have already beaten the Aussies during this World Cup . New Zealand beat them by one point earlier in the tournament .