From the highs of the Hobart test victory over Australia in December to the dismantling of Zimbabwe at home, then competing in patches with South Africa, the Kiwis have one last game before the so-called summer officially ends.
Down 1-0 after being hammered by nine wickets in the second test in Hamilton, the Black Caps have arrived to poor weather in Wellington.
The covers have been on the Basin Reserve wicket since Sunday and they won't be removed during the next day at the very least with continual rain - albeit light - falling in the city today.
Vettori, who has only claimed two wickets in the first two tests, said the side were geared up for a big performance this week.
"It's pretty influential on our summer as well,'' he said. "I think if we can scrap back in this test match it's been, overall, a very successful summer. If not, I think we'll be remembered for that loss. It's really important the guys understand that and the guys have done it in the past before and this is an opportunity to try and do that again.''
South Africa's seam attack have been dominant during the first two tests of the series and the Kiwis have responded by bolstering their batting line-up and axing the underperforming Rob Nicol.
Cantabrian Dean Brownlie and Northern Districts' left-hander Daniel Flynn have been added to the side, and coach John Wright has indicated they will likely play just three pace bowlers rather than four in a bid to lengthen their batting order.
That would see Vettori and Kruger van Wyk slide down a spot and Brownlie, who was impressive on the tour of Australia before Christmas, slot in at No 6.
Following his first-innings five-wicket haul in the second test, Mark Gillespie is assured of a place in the playing XI, with Chris Martin and Doug Bracewell likely to be the other quick men.
Vettori acknowledged the Proteas had been impressive during the test series.
"They're a very good team. I think particularly from a bowling perspective they're fairly relentless and they have five guys they can go to who are pretty exceptional. So that's the biggest challenge for us but [the Basin Reserve] is a wicket that we do enjoy playing on. Results haven't always gone our way here but we do like playing here so we are hoping we can turn it around this test.''
No build-up to a test in Wellington would be complete without a mention of the wind.
South African paceman Morne Morkel, who has claimed four wickets in the first two tests in a largely supporting role to the near-unplayable Vernon Philander, said their seam unit would take a novel approach to deciding who would bowl into the Wellington gusts.
"Well obviously it's going to be a bit of rock, paper, scissors between the fast bowlers,'' Morkel joked.
"It'll probably be short spells. So for the three or four overs you just need to do the job for the team. For us, it's not about individualism. It's just what's best for the team so if you have to shorten your run up a little bit to give you a slight boost at the crease or find a way, that's something we need to discuss and work out.''
