Not counting Zimbabwe or Bangladesh, New Zealand has won just two tests on foreign soil in the past 10 years.
But spirits are high following a magical summer at home that included wins over the West Indies and India.
The form of batsmen such as Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum, and the continued development of left-armer Trent Boult and fellow spearhead Tim Southee, have left the country feeling strangely optimistic about the tour of the West Indies.
Black Caps coach Mike Hesson shares that enthusiasm.
He endured a rough introduction when he took over the coaching role following the last trip to the Caribbean in 2012. His decision to remove Taylor as captain and appoint McCullum drew unprecedented levels of criticism.
But the Black Caps won plenty of supporters back during the summer with some gutsy displays which included a match-saving triple ton and a match-winning double hundred from McCullum.
Taylor, too, showed without the burden of captaincy, and having shelved his slog sweep, he is the world-class batsman we hoped he would be. He scored almost 500 runs in the West Indies series, including a double century.
Boult and Southee took 38 wickets between them during the series and carried that form into the Indian series.
''The next step is performing consistently away from home,'' Hesson said.
''In the last couple of years, all sides have struggled away from home. Test match wins away from home are few and far between.''
The Black Caps laboured in the Caribbean in 2012, particularly against spin. The surfaces have changed dramatically since the 1980s and early 1990s when the West Indies employed a string of quality fast bowlers and produced pitches which suited their attack.
These days, the strip in the middle has little on it which resembles grass, and the Black Caps can expect a barrage of spin rather than bumpers.
''It is quite foreign in terms of what we are used to,'' Hesson said.
''But we know what we are going to confront.''
He believes his side is better equipped to cope than the team which fronted two years ago.
''Our average against spin during the last two years at home has been 54. We played it well at home but away from home it is closer to 30, so clearly there is a big discrepancy.''
It is more bounce than turn which has tended to catch the batsmen out.
''We've got players who are experienced enough to be able to adapt. We've also got one or two who it will be a big challenge for.''
The batting order is settled, with one exception. Cantabrian Tom Latham has been brought into the squad to challenge Hamish Rutherford and Peter Fulton, and Hesson described the opening berths as ''contestable''.
''We have three openers vying for two spots. We have two warm-up games and we are very open in our thinking around who the openers are going to be. Whoever adapts to the conditions the quickest is likely to get the first opportunity.''
The surfaces the Black Caps are likely to strike will alter the mix of the side.
Hesson said a combination of two seamers, two spinners and an all-rounder would give his side the best prospect of success.
That means Otago offspinner Mark Craig will almost certainly play.
He was not wanted, initially. Daniel Vettori was ruled out because he had not got his bowling load up to the required standard, and Jeetan Patel declined a spot in the side, electing to remain with his county side.
''Mark has very much been on our radar as a longer-form bowler. We think he gets good players out through beating them in the air and off the wicket.
''He is probably one of the biggest spinners of the ball in New Zealand for a finger spinner. With the [number of] left-hand batsmen the West Indies will have, his offspin is a factor for us.''
Perhaps the only other selection dilemma is which all-rounder will get the nod. Corey Anderson and Jimmy Neesham both mount a compelling case for inclusion.
Anderson is perhaps a more savvy bowler who relies on swing, change-ups and off-cutters, whereas Neesham is quicker and is more aggressive.
Batting-wise, they both have a test hundred to their name and there is little to separate them.
''It is a nice problem to have. Corey has the front running but James is certainly pushing.''
The IPL will delay the arrival of some of the key Black Caps but Hesson feels the preparation will be adequate.
There are two warm-up games before the first of three tests gets under way in Kingston on June 8. The test series will be followed by two twenty20 fixtures.
Otago seamers Ian Butler and Neil Wagner have signed with English county side Northamptonshire.
Butler, who spent most of the New Zealand summer sidelined with a chronic back complaint, is available for both Championship and T20 matches until late July.
Wagner will play in the final five Championship matches after the Black Caps tour to the West Indies.
Northamptonshire is back in division one of the Championship for the first time since 2004, and is the reigning twenty20 champion.
