Speaking ahead of the team's departure for New Zealand today, De Villiers said South Africa were keen to avenge their defeat by the Black Caps in a dramatic 2015 World Cup semi-final which was marked by controversy over South Africa's team selection.
The Proteas brought in Vernon Philander for fellow fast bowler Kyle Abbott in that game, a decision made, it was claimed, to ensure four players of colour in the starting XI.
South Africa will travel as the world's leading one-day team after completing a 5-0 clean sweep against Sri Lanka at SuperSport Park on Friday.
De Villiers said the number one ranking gave the team confidence but also put pressure on the players.
"Being the number one team in the world people expect you to play a certain level of cricket all the time," he said.
"But with the team ethic we have at the moment I think we'll thrive under that kind of pressure. It definitely gives you confidence as well. There's a reason why we're number one and that's because we're playing good cricket.
"I think we deserve to be number one and we want to carry on playing the way we have been."
De Villiers said he expected a tough challenge.
"New Zealand are a street-smart team and they find ways to compete but we have a decent record there. The last few tours we have been there we have played really good cricket."
Faf du Plessis, who will captain the team in the T20 international as well as a three-match Test series which follows the one-day games, said overcoming jet lag would be the immediate challenge for the squad.
Coach Russell Domingo said: "Schedules are so tight these days but we can't be seen to be making any excuses. We want to start the tour playing good cricket."
South African limited overs squad: AB de Villiers (one-day international captain), Faf du Plessis (T20 international captain), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wkt), JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Dane Paterson, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
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