All bets are off when the cricket World Cup finals get underway, Australian vice-captain George Bailey reckons.

Regardless of win-loss records or team lineups during the month of pool matches, the tournament reaches another level when it comes to sudden-death, he said.

“I don’t think it matters if you’ve qualified first or fourth,” said Bailey, in Hobart ahead of Australia’s last group match against Scotland on Saturday.

“The beauty of those games are, and the beauty of the World Cup is, it becomes a knockout and you just have to play your best once you get there.”

Tournament favourites Australia and New Zealand, who are both already guaranteed quarter-final berths, will progress having adopted quite different strategies.

The Brendon McCullum-led Kiwis have stuck with the same winning XI throughout their Pool A matches and haven’t had a loss in their five fixtures.

In contrast the Aussies have used all 15 of their squad members and won three from four matches, while their clash with Bangladesh was washed out.

“I don’t see any real advantage to anyone,” said Bailey, who has played just one of the World Cup matches and is unlikely to get a call-up on Saturday.

“If you’ve played five games on the trot, if it’s your game for the tournament, the expectation will be the same and that’s to perform at your absolute best.”

Assuming Australia defeat Scotland at Bellerive Oval on Saturday, they will finish second in Pool A.

That means a knockout March 20 quarter final in Adelaide, against a yet-to-be decided contender from Pool B.

Scotland, who first have to face Sri Lanka on Wednesday, are looking forward to their Australian hitout, although captain Preston Mommsen doesn’t sound confident that his team can secure a win.

“That’s going to be a very tough game for us but a very exciting fixture, nonetheless, to play against the host team and a very strong team,” he said.

“It will be a great way to finish the tournament to play some good cricket against a very top nation.”