Malinga has never played a one-dayer against Tait's Australians.
But if the defending champions want information on how dangerous the Sri Lankan fast bowler can be, all they have to do is ask South Africa.
The Proteas had been starting the celebrations when, after four incredible deliveries, they turned to find themselves in deep trouble in a World Cup Super Eights game against Sri Lanka last month.
The cause of their unexpected pain was Malinga, the bleach-blond paceman with the distinctive, low-slung round-arm action and eyebrow ring who grabbed four wickets off successive balls to almost engineer an unlikely victory in Guyana.
On Saturday, he will meet Tait, the Australian tyro with his own slinging brand of delivery who has defied the sceptics at the World Cup by taking 23 wickets.
Malinga is 23 and Tait 24.
But both have been troubling batsmen with their pace and variations on their maiden Cup appearance.
They are the second-highest wicket-takers in their respective s