The Azzurri's 1-1 draw with Paraguay in Monday's group opener was the latest in a series of unconvincing displays and they will be taking nothing for granted at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit despite New Zealand's clear inferiority.
Inexperienced Italy goalkeeper Federico Marchetti will start following Gianluigi Buffon's back injury, adding to the uncertainty witnessed in the defence against Paraguay.
The 27-year-old, who sometimes awkwardly punches the ball, has just six caps and has barely played with Italy's back four.
New Zealand earned their first point at a World Cup when Winston Reid netted with a header to equalise in injury time of their opening 1-1 draw with Slovakia and Italy are concerned about their opponents' height in the box.
"We know they are a very physical squad and good in the air," Marchetti told reporters, aware he will have to command his area if Italy are to avoid any embarrassment.
The holders are also scarred by a 4-3 win over New Zealand in a friendly just before last year's Confederations Cup in South Africa, where they were dumped out in the group stage.
New Zealand, who qualified for the World Cup by beating teams like New Caledonia before prevailing in a playoff against Bahrain, worried Italy repeatedly in that meeting and only a late flurry prevented Marcello Lippi's side from humiliation.
"New Zealand are very strong from dead balls," he said. "We have to go on the field to win the game. We are not thinking about losing."
"We've got nothing to lose, nobody is expecting anything from us," defender Tommy Smith said.
"We're just going out there to prove to ourselves that we can cope against the top level team."
