South Africa were primed to demonstrate a more attacking bent and stronger resolve during their tour of New Zealand which starts in Christchurch on Wednesday.
The tourists, who are perched to challenge for No.1 status in the world, open with a Twenty20 friendly against Canterbury, and then three Twenty20 internationals against New Zealand starting on Friday, followed by three One-Day Internationals and three Test matches.
Twenty20 captain A B de Villiers, who leads the side during the early games of the tour before Graeme Smith's arrival for the ODIs and Tests, said South Africa would be a more competitive side than Zimbabwe. "We're definitely going to go out there to win games so hopefully we do well."
Having assumed the captaincy from Smith in Twenty20 cricket, he said his approach was to go out and enjoy himself and to try things and to attack.
He was aware that with only five games in the role he had a lot to learn.
"I like to play around with the bowlers, and the field placings as well and I like to stay one step ahead of the batters and try to think what they are thinking about. I also like to think what I would find uncomfortable at the wicket at various times," he said.
The intense rivalry between the two countries had boiled over in their most recent outing at the World Cup where New Zealand knocked South Africa out of the tournament so South Africa felt they had a lot to prove in their forthcoming series in New Zealand. But it was 'past tense' now, De Villiers said.
"I'm sure the game will be played very hard in the field but we're friends with most of the guys off the field so nothing too serious but we will definitely go out there and try to win the games," he said.
"We have new goals now and a lot to look forward to. We are a new unit with fresh faces. We play a different kind of cricket to what we have in the last few years.
"Mentally, we will have to be tested to see how strong we are," he said.
Coach Gary Kirsten said South Africa would not be focused on New Zealand was doing, they would be worrying about themselves.
"We just feel if we play really good cricket in terms of our skills and don't say anything we are going to win more games than we are going to lose. At the end of the day the side that plays better cricket is going to win," he said.