Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum have New Zealand's immediate prospects in their hands but long-term, the bowlers hold the key to victory after day two of the first test was abandoned yesterday without a ball being bowled.
Weather willing, New Zealand will resume its first innings today on 226 for four with Ryder on 54 and McCullum on four. The weekend forecast is promising but more than 100 overs have been lost.
Black Caps pace bowler Iain O'Brien believes that has strengthened New Zealand's position.
"We're certainly in a comfortable position because it's a shorter game," he told NZPA yesterday.
O'Brien said New Zealand planned to bat for most of the third day and then look to dismiss the West Indies twice.
"I can't see us change the way we're batting until after lunch, all things going well," he said.
"We may then look at putting our foot down and then bowl well and hopefully pick up 20 poles [wickets] quickly."
The pitch will have livened up after remaining under covers all day and should provide the Windies' four-pronged pace attack some assistance early.
Play was abandoned at 2.30pm yesterday after it became evident the surface was too sodden to allow play.
