David Warner saw signs of Trent Boult's best in the second test, underlining how much of a loss the swing specialist would be if ruled out of the day-night clash.
Warner captained Boult at Indian Premier League club Hyderabad this year, giving him a chance to see the 26-year-old's in-dippers at a different angle.
Warner also watched Boult grab a five-wicket haul in Auckland during the World Cup, when he sliced through Australia's middle order.
Given his white-ball feats, Boult was expected to be a handful in the inaugural day-night Test that starts on Friday at Adelaide Oval.
However, the left-armer starts the series underdone and is now in doubt for the final Test due to a back niggle.
Boult will need to train well on Wednesday to convince NZ coach Mike Hesson he is fit enough to play the innovative fixture.
Boult has been down on pace and lacked control for much of the first two Tests.
But he dismissed Warner twice at the WACA and had a confident lbw shout that went within a whisker of dismissing Australia's vice-captain on review.
"The way he's bowled has been a little bit far from his best. I can see that," Warner said.
"The way he bowled to me in that second day was the Trent Boult that I see as an international cricket player.
"He put the ball in the right areas, questioned me the whole time then nicked me off.
"I've got to work out how can I not allow him to do that again."
Warner revealed he has been watching footage of Boult bowling to left-handers in an effort to nullify the Blackcaps bowler.
"I've worked out my way to try and tackle him and try to not get out to him. I'll keep that to myself," he said.
Warner remembers 2011
David Warner remembers the last time New Zealand levelled a Test series in Australia.
Warner famously carried his bat at Bellerive in 2011, when his side failed to chase down 240 in the second Test and finished 1-1 against the Blackcaps.
It felt like a series defeat then.
And it would feel like a series defeat now if NZ manage to draw the three-Test series by winning the pink-ball clash at Adelaide Oval that starts on Friday.
"We would consider that as a loss because we've played so well," Warner said.
"New Zealand, to fight back in the last game - to bat the game into a draw was a credit to them.
"Now we've got to be on our guard."
Warner scored 123 as Australia suffered a collapse of 7-74 in Hobart four years ago, Doug Bracewell running rampant.
"To sit in the changerooms and listen to the Kiwis celebrate was quite tough," Warner said.
"We were expected to win that game down in Hobart, only chasing 240.
"Bracewell bowled fantastic and won New Zealand the game. We take those memories into this game.
"It would mean a lot to us if we can get up here in Adelaide."
Warner may be using Australia's past failure as motivation this week, however New Zealand paceman Tim Southee is taking a different approach.
The Blackcaps were smashed in this year's World Cup final, Australia cruising to victory at the MCG after Mitchell Starc made a mess of Brendon McCullum's stumps in the first over.
"It's nothing like the World Cup final," Southee quipped, when asked if there was a similar sense of occasion.
Warner rejected the idea his side had an edge over NZ because of the World Cup triumph.
"I can't talk on their behalf but from our point of view it's about getting out of the gates and we flew out the gates there," Warner said.
"That was the key for us and I think that's what we've got to do here, you've got to start well and get early wickets."
