Duelling captains agree the ICC Women's World Cup might just be the most open in the tournament's history - that's if COVID-19 doesn't get in the way.
The 50-over showpiece gets underway on Friday night in Tauranga when hosts New Zealand take on the West Indies.
World No.1 and favourites Australia kick off their campaign the following day in Hamilton against holders England, with sub-continental rivals India and Pakistan also squaring off in a blockbuster opening weekend.
The Women's World Cup has been dominated by Australia and England, winners of 10 of the 11 tournaments.
The sole exception came the last time New Zealand had hosting rights, in 2000, when the White Ferns were victorious.
There's a growing expectation nations like India and South Africa will make life tough for the bigger nations in Aotearoa.
The Proteas have surged in the rankings to world No.2 and are out to reach their first World Cup final.
"On the day, when a team shines, they can beat any team around the world," SA captain Sune Luus said.
England skipper Heather Knight said the gap to the best teams was shrinking but Australia remained the team to beat.
"Australia have been the outstanding team (since 2017) and naturally, deservedly they go in as favourites," she said.
Australia skipper Meg Lanning wasn't buying into the favouritism, even suggesting vanquished Ashes rivals England as holders were the ones that deserved the tag.
"Everybody starts on zero points and needs to play well throughout the tournament," she said.
The eight teams - including first-timers Bangladesh - will play a round-robin leaving four semi-finalists, with the world champs decided at Christchurch's Hagley Oval on April 3.
Like every sporting event of the past two years, the World Cup will be played with pandemic storm clouds overhead.
In devastating timing for New Zealand, which has recorded fewer COVID-19 cases and deaths than other developed nations, Omicron has landed just as the tournament begins.
New Zealand recorded more than 20,000 cases on Wednesday and the outbreak's peak will hit during the World Cup.
Organisers have decided against tight biosecure bubbles but are making some precautions, including limiting player movement.
Australia were the first team to suffer a COVID casualty with reigning player of the year Ashleigh Gardner testing positive on Thursday.
As the rest of the squad flew from Christchurch to Hamilton to face England, Gardner stayed behind to complete her 10 days in isolation.
Organisers have built the pandemic into their planning, pledging to re-schedule matches where possible and allowing sides to field as few as nine fit players, allowing female support staff to play fielding roles.
Tournament chief executive Andrea Nelson said "it's important we do everything we can to maximise possibility for the best players in the world to show their skills".
Pakistan captain Bismar Maroof said despite the risks the show must go on.
"Cricket and COVID have to co-exist," she said.
"We have to complete the tournament for the betterment of women's cricket."
Crowds will be capped at 10 per cent for the opening week with organisers hoping to increase audiences at the back end.
"We're working really hard to see how many people we can get into stadiums and maximise interest in the World Cup," Nelson said.
The ICC has boosted prize money for the tournament by 75 per cent from the last edition, but teams will still receive just a third of the men's tournament.
The winners will receive $US1.32 million ($A1.8 million).
