South Africa coach Gary Kirsten has said that his players will not be engaging in any verbal battles during their upcoming tour of New Zealand.

Tensions were rife during Proteas' last tour of the South Pacific island eight years ago, which ended in the series being drawn.

Then-Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming aimed a deliberate sledging attack at his South African counterpart Graeme Smith.

However, Kirsten has now said that it will be the team that plays the best cricket that will win.

"To be honest with you I don't think we've thought too much on what New Zealand might do, we just focus on what we can do," he said.

"We just feel that if we play really good cricket, in terms of our skills, and don't say anything, we're going to win more games than we lose.

"Our focus and attention will be a lot on what we want to do and if New Zealand feel they want to get verbal with us then that's their business. At the end of the day the side that plays better cricket is going to win."

New Zealand knocked South Africa out of last year's Cricket World Cup at the quarter-final stage.