The two World Cup games on Thursday may appear meaningless but it will be a big day for several squad players, a coach and a captain.

Scotland and the Netherlands clash in Group A before they both head home while New Zealand have already qualified for the Super Eights and will use their final Group C match with eliminated Canada to test the depth in their squad.

Peter Fulton, now untroubled by a broken finger, will stake his claim for a starting berth when he comes in for Ross Taylor, who strained a hamstring in Tuesday's victory over Kenya in St Lucia.

Fast bowler Shane Bond is set to be rested, giving Daryl Tuffey an opportunity to sample some World Cup action.

"Peter Fulton automatically comes in. There are changes by attrition anyway but it will be good to give Daryl Tuffey his first run in this World Cup," New Zealand coach John Bracewell told reporters.

"We want to be uncompromising in our approach. We still want to demonstrate a fearlessness and a confidence to be able to take the rope on but we don't want to have a slog fest. We've got to have more balls that we are scoring off."

Canada coach Andy Pick will bid farewell to the World Cup and to Canada after the match as he is returning to England after new contract negotiations broke down.

Pick wanted a three-year deal but Canada could only afford to offer him a two-year contract because they have not received sufficient funding.

Associate countries Scotland and the Netherlands have suffered crushing defeats against Australia and South Africa in St. Kitts and Thursday's match will be the final opportunity for one of them to leave the competition with a victory.

The teams have met twice before in one-dayers and the Scots have won both matches.

South African skipper Graeme Smith has tipped Scotland to win but Dutch captain Luuk van Troost, 37, has an extra incentive to win.

"Who knows, I may retire after the World Cup," Van Troost, the headmaster of a special needs school, told reporters. "In fact, I think I will."

The seven-week World Cup culminates in the Barbados final on April 28.

Additional reporting by Telford Vice in Basseterre, St Kitts