The Blackcaps aren't bothered about whether or not they've got the "underdog" tag, heading into Monday's Twenty20 World Cup final against Australia.
Despite consistent performances on the world stage in recent years, the Blackcaps are rarely acknowledged as the world class outfit that they are.
Often operating in the shadows of world cricket's supposed "big three" of Australia, England and India, the Blackcaps are more than capable of going toe-to-toe with the game's heavyweights - reflected by their recent success.
Since reaching their maiden World Cup final in 2015, the Blackcaps have also made the semi-final of the 2016 T20 World Cup, the final of the 2019 World Cup, as well as the 2021 World Test Championship - that they won.
Across all forms of the game, the Blackcaps are by far and away the most consistent side in the world at present, ranked at No. 1 in both tests and ODIs, and could add the T20 World Cup to their collection as well.
But with cricket's elite decided by which teams have the most money rather than those that produce the best results, the Blackcaps naturally enter these tournaments as outsiders, resulting in Australia being the bookies' favourites for Monday's clash.
For the team itself though, those labels of underdog and favourite play no part in how they go about things.
Already, the Blackcaps have sent the two pre-tournament favourites, England and India, home early, and will be quietly confident of coming up triumphant against Australia in Dubai.
"You hear all the outside noise and whatnot, but as a group we just try to stay pretty level," seamer Tim Southee says.
"We don't beat ourselves up if we lose a game. If you look at the first game, against Pakistan, we weren't too far off. We didn't try and reinvent the wheel.
"We knew we had to make small adjustments and improve in certain areas, and we've sort of done that throughout the tournament.
"One of the strengths of this side is to stay level in everything we do. We've definitely been a lot more consistent in world events especially."
Awaiting the Blackcaps at the last hurdle though will be trans-Tasman nemesis Australia.
In two world event finals so far, the 2009 Champions Trophy and 2015 World Cup, the Blackcaps boast a 0-2 losing record against Australia.
This time around though, the Blackcaps have recent form on their side - winning their last T20 series 3-2 against Australia earlier in 2021.
And for Southee, the recent memory of that series win stands as reason to be confident in a final and a format where anything can happen.
"Australia have been a very strong side for a long time," he adds. "We haven't played them in a final since 2015.
"But we beat them - I know that they weren't at full strength - in a T20 series not so long ago, in New Zealand.
"We haven't played a lot in recent times, but that series in New Zealand where we came out on top was great to be a part of.
"We know they're a dangerous side, but it's a final. Anything can happen.
"Two good sides going at it, so hopefully we can just come in and do what we've been doing for the last few weeks."
Join Newshub for live updates of the Twenty20 World Cup final between the Blackcaps and Australia from 3am on Monday.
