Australia’s World T20 opener against New Zealand in Dharamsala – which starts at 8pm tonight, Adelaide time, – was rightly billed as a make-or-break game for Steve Smith’s side.

A loss would potentially make it a knockout tournament from that point on, given Australia have been pooled with hosts India, NZ, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Only two sides from the group will progress to the semi-finals.

Showers have been predicted on Friday, while heavy covers blanketed the entire field for most of Thursday.

There is every chance the game could be abandoned, although Smith is upbeat the rivals can fit in 10 overs.

“You just have to adapt to whatever happens. We might not bowl a ball,” Smith said.

“You just have to go out and do what you can. If it’s a five-over [a side] game, we’ll be doing our best to win it.

“You can’t control the weather, it’s just part of the game.”

Smith admitted his side’s tactics and XI would change if the game is impacted by wet weather.

Both Smith and NZ skipper Kane Williamson will be desperate to chase if there is a chance the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method is going to come into play.

“A few different things could change with a shortened game. We’ll have to wait and see,” Smith said.

“You have to have something in mind… a lot of the gameplans and how each individual plays, that doesn’t change too much.

“But I think you do have to have a few different gameplans if the game is a little bit shorter.”

NZ were forced to train indoors on Thursday, while Australia had an optional session outdoors in the morning.

“Obviously it’s not ideal,” veteran Ross Taylor said.

“Hopefully the weather plays its part tomorrow.”

Taylor noted his side was buzzing after their upset win over hosts and title favourites India but focused on the task at hand.

“We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves,” he said.

-AAP