DUNEDIN, Feb 23: Injured strike bowler Shaun Pollock will miss his first One-day International in four years when South Africa take on New Zealand at Carisbrook on Tuesday.

Pollock, who was sacked as captain at last year's World Cup, has played 116 one-dayers in a row. He has played 211 in total since his debut in 1996. Captain Stephen Fleming was happy to see the back of Pollock.

"We think he's the key to their bowling," he said. "Someone with Pollock's experience could be sorely missed." South Africa captain Graeme Smith said his other bowlers would have to take more responsibility, adding: "In the last two games we've been outdone in the basics."

The Black Caps' new-ball paceman Daryl Tuffey has been sidelined with a knee injury. Even with the bowling attacks levelled, New Zealand are still in the rare position of having the upper hand over the world's second-ranked side, but Fleming said there was no sign of complacency.

"We're realistic, we know each time we beat them they'll come back stronger, so we have to keep improving and looking for holes we can nip through and expose," he said.

New Zealand have never beaten the Proteas in a one-day or Test series, but history favours them at Carisbrook, where they have won three of their last four games, including a seven-wicket win during South Africa's 1999 tour.

New Zealand also led 2-1 in the 1999 series against South Africa only to lose the fourth and fifth matches and go down 3-2 when the sixth game in Wellington was washed out.

South Africa, must now prove that once again they can come out fighting under pressure, and Smith is demanding his bowlers step up. Explosive all-rounder Lance Klusener will return to the Proteas from a back injury to replace Pollock, who is hoping to be fit for the fifth game in Auckland on Saturday.

Opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs turned 30 on Tuesday, and although he has a reputation for liking a good time and was once caught on a drinking session on the eve of an international, he said he has put birthday celebrations on hold this time.

With Tuffey injured, Michael Mason has been brought back into the New Zealand side for his fourth internatioal and will partner Kyle Mills with the new ball.

Although Mason disappointed playing in Pakistan last December, taking just one for 179 from 29 overs, he has been the pick of the bowlers in the New Zealand domestic season, taking 13 wickets from six matches at 13.84 runs apiece. The forecast for Tuesday was hardly encouraging with rain set to strike before the day-night game begins.

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