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Playing New Zealand will give South Africa a better gauge of its international standing after its test and one-day series demolition of the West Indies, believes Proteas captain Hansie Cronje.

The South African squad arrived in Christchurch yesterday to start its New Zealand tour without head coach Bob Woolmer who has stayed in Cape Town to be with his ailing father. He will join the side later. Woolmer's assistant, Graham Ford, is in charge at present.

Cronje said that towards the end of the series against West Indies it became obvious the visitors were divided and performing below expectations.

``It remains to be seen just how strong we are. Opponents have different styles and we shall have to see if we can adapt to the conditions here.''

``Confident but not complacent,'' is how Cronje described South Africa's mood on making its first full visit to New Zealand in 35 years. It includes three tests and six one-day internationals.

``Since Steve Rixon has taken over, New Zealand appear a more disciplined and generally stronger team.''

Cronje said he had watched little of the Black Caps in their recent series against India. He had made his judgments more on the experience of the one-day tri-series in Australia last summer.

``In that series they were only a few balls away from beating us in one high-scoring game and they came close in some others, too.

``With the likes of Chris Cairns, Adam Parore, and Dion Nash coming in the middle order they have a lot of batting depth.''

Cronje said that the West Indies had only three batsmen performing while the bowling rested heavily on veterans Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose.

``They had us in trouble at times, but we had the strength and depth to fight our way out of it.''

``Against the West Indies, in times of trouble, we managed to bat ourselves out of it from No. 6 onwards.''

Cronje dispelled suggestions the visitors may be jaded after finishing their one-day series against West Indies only earlier this week before jetting to New Zealand via Sydney.

``It's a difficult balance to strike. Some players feel a week not playing is a waste.

``We've had a few days off not doing anything physical. It's probably just the difference in time zones that may hit us.''

Cronje said he was aware how fortunes could fluctuate at the top level with South Africa having been in the dumps just months ago after losing a test series to England and failing to qualify for the final in the one-day tri-series with England and Sri Lanka. ``But the boys started picking things up at the Commonwealth Games, carried on at the mini-World Cup and have gone from there.''

Cronje said it was likely South Africa would field its strongest combination ``nine times out of 10'' on tour.

``I think you'll find much as we'd like to rotate players and keep them fresh, we'll probably try and field our strongest 11 at all times -- obviously with a rest at some stage for some of the bowlers.''

The team flew to Queenstown last night to prepare for the tour opener, a one-dayer against a New Zealand Academy team at Alexandra tomorrow.

Meanwhile, a New Zealand punter has backed South Africa heavily to win the opening one-dayer against New Zealand in Dunedin on Sunday. The investor has outlaid just over $36,000 at odds of $1.45 for a return of close to $52,500. South Africa is now paying $1.37 and New Zealand $2.80.

South African squad: Hansie Cronje (captain), Shaun Pollock (vice-captain), Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Jonty Rhodes, Lance Klusner, Dale Benkenstein, Mark Boucher, Steve Elworthy, Nicky Boje, Pat Symcox, Paul Adams, Allan Donald, Victor Mpitsang.