New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum won the toss and sent South Africa in to bat in the third and final Twenty20 international in Auckland on Wednesday.
New Zealand will be looking to contain South African opener Richard Levi in the decider, after he smashed a record 13 sixes in an unbeaten 117 to level the series in the second match in Hamilton on Sunday.
New Zealand have called in their own big hitter in the form of Jesse Ryder to add firepower to their batting line up, also including Michael Bates and spinner Roneel Hira.
South Africa have made just one change, dropping paceman Lonwabo Tsotsobe to 12 man in favour of allrounder Robin Peterson.
Teams:
New Zealand: Rob Nicol, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum (captain), Kane Williamson, Jesse Ryder, James Franklin, Nathan McCullum, Doug Bracewell, Roneel Hira, Tim Southee, Michael Bates, Colin de Grandhomme (12th man)
South Africa: Richard Levi, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers (captain), JP Duminy, Justin Ontong, Albie Morkel, Johan Botha, Wayne Parnell, Morne Morkel, Robin Peterson, Marchant de Lange, Lonwabo Tsotsobe (12th man)
Umpires: Gary Baxter (NZL), Chris Gaffaney (NZL)
TV umpire: Barry Frost (NZL)
Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (SRI)