Even the most resolute Black Caps fans must have wavered in their support when the top order capitulated in Australia during the recent two-match test series.
If the West Indies were looking for five reasons why they could beat the Black Caps they would probably start with Jamie How, Tim McIntosh, Daniel Flynn and Jesse Ryder, and if Peter Fulton was playing, their list would be complete.
Ross Taylor would be excluded on the basis he is the one shinning light in the top five.
The Central Districts right-hander has had an impressive 12 months and is closing in on John R.
Reid's New Zealand record for the most test runs in a calendar year.
Reid posted 871 at 36.39 in 13 tests in 1965 and Taylor has scored 753 runs so far.
Potentially, he has four innings to overhaul Reid's total.
And perhaps it is a little unfair on McIntosh, who will be making his debut.
But Windies pace bowlers Fidel Edwards, Jerome Taylor and Daren Powell will rate their chances of ripping through the top five.
Then again, the Black Caps top order will take a look at the West Indies bowling statistics and fancy their chances.
Taylor has a respectable record of 63 test wickets at 34.69.
But Edwards is in the must-improve category with 95 at 40.56, and Powell's 73 at 47.28 is decidedly average.
Still, the home side has struggled to build a platform whereas the Windies have oodles of batting class.
The star at the top of the Christmas tree is Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
The diminutive left-hander shuffles around in the crease and is not the prettiest cricketer to watch, but he is effective.
His resume includes 8001 test runs at just over 49.
He is the No 1-ranked test batsman and only Brian Lara, Viv Richards and Garry Sobers have scored more runs for the West Indies in tests.
West Indies skipper Chris Gayle has a reputation as a punishing batsman and Ramnaresh Sarwan is a quality international player with an average of just over 40.
"If those guys stick around then we know how much damage they can do," Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori warned at the pre-match press conference yesterday.
"I think Gayle is one of the more destructive batsmen in world cricket and we've seen how good Chanderpaul has been in the last two years.
His record is just phenomenal.
So if we get through those three players, that is probably going to be the key to how we go in this series."
Where the visitors could hit a road block is with New Zealand's middle and lower-middle order.
The all-rounders have regularly bailed out the specialists and in Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum and Vettori, New Zealand has arguably the best No 6, 7 and 8 in world cricket.
Oram, though, is in doubt after complaining of a tight left calf muscle during the final training session yesterday.
Auckland's Kyle Mills has been brought in as a precaution.
Add James Franklin into the mix and Black Caps have an extended batting line-up.
Franklin has been in superb form with the bat for Wellington, scoring 448 runs at an average of 149.33.
Effectively, though, he has been picked as a bowler.
He will take the new ball with Mark Gillespie.
It is a baffling decision.
While Franklin has been in reasonable form in first-class cricket this season, taking seven wickets at 27.85, Tim Southee showed he can be very dangerous when the conditions are right.
He removed Matthew Hayden, Simon Katich and Ricky Ponting in a superb spell in the first test in Brisbane and was unlucky to be dropped.
You have to wonder if Southee and Chris Martin paid the price for the top order's failings and Franklin's inclusion amounts to little more than an insurance policy in case the batting goes horribly wrong again.
What good is it batting down to No 9 if you cannot take 20 wickets? It's a point not lost on West Indies coach John Dyson.
"You look at the number of all-rounders that they've picked to bolster the batting, which says New Zealand itself is a little worried about their batting."
Vettori was cautious when asked if the strongest line-up had been picked, but did express some surprise Martin had missed the cut.
"My personal feeling is a fit Chris Martin is the best bowler in the country, so as soon as we get him back then that will make a huge difference," Vettori said.
