Black Caps seamer Tim Southee had not had the luxury of viewing the pitch before fronting the media at the University Oval yesterday.
We can reveal the strip was well-grassed and much of it a deep green colour.
Whether it is still as lively-looking tomorrow morning when the first test against Sri Lanka gets under way at the University Oval is unclear.
It was hard underneath and the pitch has tended to flatten out quite quickly in the past.
But either way the New Zealand spearhead was looking forward to bowling in home conditions.
"I have not had a look [at the pitch] yet but I'm sure Hess [Black Caps coach Mike Hesson] and Brendon [McCullum] have had a look and we'll study that closely over the next couple of days,'' Southee said.
"It is always nice to be in conditions we are familiar with [and on] pitches we know a little bit more about.''
The first two tests in Australia were tough going for the New Zealand seamers.
The batsmen dominated and everyone had to bowl a few more overs.
The upside of that is that Southee and his main accomplice, Trent Boult, ought to be in good nick.
"I think we were a little bit off in Australia at times. But we showed, especially in Adelaide and Perth, what we are capable of. When we get it right, we are a very dangerous bowling attack.''
The Black Caps' opponents lack the the star names they have boasted in the past.
There is no Kumar Sangakkara, of course.
He scored a double century during the second test at the Basin Reserve earlier this year but has since retired.
Sangakkara is the type of player who comes along once in a generation and his absence leaves a hole in the top order.
Captain Angelo Mathews has had a strong 12 months and will look to pick up some of the slack.
Dinesh Chandimal has scored more than 700 runs this year at an average of 47.26 and is another threat.
But he could shoulder a heavy workload.
With wicketkeeper Kusal Perera dismissed from the tour following yesterday's news he had tested positive for a banned substance, Chandimal may end up with the gloves although 20-year-old Kusal Mendis could also perform the role.
Opener Dimuth Karunaratne is another player the touring side will be hoping can score heavily.
"It is a new-look side. Obviously there is a couple of guys who came out on the last tour ... who we know a little bit more about.
"There is a lot of time spent on scouting'' and analysing "that goes into the preparation of any test series''.
"In this test series there is a little more emphasis on that with a few new guys that we need to know a little more about.''
Sri Lanka has also lost the services of pace bowler Dhammika Prasad.
He picked up a back injury during the warm-up game in Queenstown last week and has returned home.
Left-armer Vishwa Fernando has replaced him in the squad.
"He toured out here last [season] and is obviously one of there more experienced seamers. It is obviously a bit of a hit for them but, as I say, it is a chance for someone else to step up and they do have a few exciting young quicks that I'm sure will be looking forward to bowling on some more friendly conditions than they are faced with at home.''
