New Zealand have made a habit of taking their leave from major tournaments like bridesmaids still waiting for their big day, but that doesn't make them any less formidable opponents for Ireland today.

The Black Caps go into the Super Eights opener having lost Jesse Ryder to a nasty infection and fellow middle-order hitter Ross Taylor to a slight hamstring tear.

They could also be without captain Daniel Vettori and left-arm pace bowler James Franklin, a worst-case scenario which would leave them with just 11 fit players, but coach Andy Moles warned Irish enthusiasts last night not to get too excited.

The Kiwis have never suffered the humiliation of defeat to a non-Test nation and they have reached the semi-finals of the past three 50-over World Cups as well as the first World Twenty20 in 2007.

The one thing, apart from the greatest Irish performance of all time, that could derail them at Trent Bridge is a shortage of high-class personnel, but Moles told Sportsmail: 'In the past the view of us has been that we have punched above our weight as a small nation, and that's what we are all about.

'When these guys come together they have a fantastic team spirit, very much like Ireland I would suggest, and they are better than people give them credit for.

'Phil Simmons and the senior players have moulded Ireland into a really formidable associate nation and I knew from the start they had a good chance of beating Bangladesh, so it doesn't surprise me that we are playing them at this stage.

'It didn't surprise me to see them struggle at the top last night because we played India in a warm-up games and their left-armers are very good.'

Ryder, who infamously failed to show up for a match while serving Ireland as overseas player, faces spending the rest of the tournament in hospital with Aaron Redmond on stand-by to replace him in the squad.

Ireland captain William Porterfield admitted last night that the Kiwis' troubles raised hopes of an upset – but only if his own team are at full strength.

'If they are missing a couple of key players it is obviously a boost to ourselves, but if we have our full 15 available I will be happier with that, as opposed to hoping New Zealand will be short.

'We will see tomorrow what line-up they play but it definitely will not be easy, no matter what players they put out.'