BIRMINGHAM: Trans-Tasman rivals Australia and New Zealand kick off their Champions Trophy campaign with a faceoff at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Friday.

Australia, boosted by the presence of all four of their top pacers, will look to unleash their best attack on the Black Caps, who already seem to be in blockbuster form with the bat as seen from their gigantic chase of 357 against Sri Lanka in the warm-up game.

In the past six months alone, the two countries have played two Chappell-Hadlee series: Australia won in Australia and New Zealand won in New Zealand. Last time they met at Edgbaston was in Champions Trophy 2013, in a match that was washed out.

Australia and New Zealand have clashed in four (completed) Champions Trophy matches, all of which have been won by two-time champions Australia.

New Zealand beat Australia in a thrilling pool match in Auckland at the 2015 World Cup only to lose to their trans-Tasman rivals in the final in Melbourne.

Australia unlikely to play ?big four'

Steve Smith/Getty Images

Skipper Steve Smith said Australia were unlikely to field all their ?big four? of fast bowlers in their Champions Trophy opener against New Zealand.

Injuries have meant the quartet of Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson have rarely all been fit at the same time.

It appears Australia have decided it´s too much of a risk fielding all four in the same team, with John Hastings -- who has plenty of English county experience -- also in the squad.

"I don´t think we´ll end up going with the four big quicks," Australia captain Smith told reporters at Edgbaston on Thursday.

"We´ve got a couple of options there as all-rounders. (Marcus) Stoinis did very well in New Zealand in the last series, and Hastings has done very well for us over in these conditions.

"He´s a little bit slower than the others and hits the seam and has some good skills throughout the middle as well."

Left-arm fast bowler Starc, arguably the world´s leading ´yorker´ bowler, has recovered from a foot injury that cut short his tour of India, while Pattinson has returned from shin and back problems.

Australia boast one of the most powerful top orders in ODI cricket, with captain Smith and opener David Warner outstanding batsmen in all formats.

They could add extra firepower by including Chris Lynn, who shot to worldwide prominence earlier this year with a sensational Indian Premier League campaign, averaging nearly 50 for the Kolkata Knight Riders.

?Cut-throat?

Kane Williamson/AFP

Friday´s encounter at Edgbaston ground is set to feature several survivors, with New Zealand captain Kane Williamson the star turn in a top order that also includes Martin Guptill.

Blackcaps pacemen Tim Southee and Trent Boult are proven performers in England, but Southee said: "We know the conditions, but you can´t rely on that."

New Zealand beat Australia 2-0 in a home ODI series earlier this year and Williamson said Thursday: "We have played each other a lot, and we are fairly familiar with each other but teams are always trying to do (things) slightly different.

"For us it´s trying to attack it as best we can. You come into these one-off clashes, they are very different, perhaps just being involved in a series."

With additional input from AFP