Black Caps opening batsman Tom Latham is not going to be taking the Sri Lankans lightly.
After a tough tour of Australia, where the Black Caps went down 2-0 in the test series, the side has returned home to take on what looks like a green Sri Lankan team at the University Oval, starting on Thursday.
The home side will go into the test as favourite but Latham knows the side has to get out and perform.
"Obviously, it is not going to be the same without Mahela [Jayawardene] and [Kumar] Sangakkara but they've got some quality players who have done well here in the past,'' he said.
"They had a few guys here in the A tour. It is a unknown for them which can make them dangerous. The cricket they played at the Basin last year, they played really well. We did well to tip them over, but they played really well.''
Latham said the New Zealand side had an obvious target for the series - to win 2-0 and play good cricket.
"We are fine with the cricket we were playing over the last test. That will hold us in good stead for a good summer of cricket.
"We had started to hit our plans better for longer as well. The boys did a great job with the ball. We were not quite there with the bat. Hopefully, we can get that in order for this series.''
Latham had some time back home in Christchurch returning from the series in Australia and appreciated the time in his own bed.
He played one game of twenty-20 cricket for Canterbury against the Sydney Thunder and said it had been enjoyable.
Latham was part of the New Zealand side which took part in the historic day-night test in Adelaide and said he really enjoyed the occasion.
"It was cool. It was a pretty awesome experience; cool playing in a historic test match.
"It has a future. To see 40,000 there in day one was pretty cool. In that third session, things changed so much. Conditions changed a little bit. There was more swing and a little more movement in the wicket.
"It was not too hard during the day time and at night. It was just that twilight time, before the lights were on full and took effect.''
Latham said the side had a forgettable first test in Brisbane when it was possibly underdone but had bounced back well in the remaining two tests.
"I think the cricket we played from day two onwards from the Waca was really good. Our bowlers started finding their mark and we started getting partnerships going. That is the main thing we need to do to win a test. We weren't far away from winning in Adelaide.''
Latham racked up a half-century in the first innings at Adelaide but it was a series in which he made a few starts and saw off the opening attack only to then get out before he could knock up a sizeable score.
Unfortunately, that was cricket, he said. Great balls came along and terrific catches were taken.
"It is disappointing to get out but on the other hand I am getting myself in those situations by getting starts which is nice. I feel like I am hitting the ball fairly well and if I can get in that situation again I can kick on.
"It is just cricket. In test cricket it only takes one ball. You think you are doing really good and then one ball comes along, with all the catchers and that there. That is just the way it is.''
The Black Caps side assembled in Dunedin yesterday and will train for the next two days before the test gets under way.
The Sri Lankans trained yesterday in the chilly conditions.
