Suddenly England does not seem so formidable.
The tourist was put under pressure by the New Zealand XI in their tour match in Queenstown yesterday and can expect another thorough examination today.
The home side seized the initiative with a positive declaration and an improved bowling effort, winning all three sessions.
England leads by 333 runs and with just one wicket in hand, it will have to work hard to avoid defeat.
Black Caps wicketkeeper BJ Watling played a key role in helping get the New Zealand XI into a position to make a declaration. He scored an undefeated 66 and combined in a damaging 105-run partnership with Northern Districts all-rounder Corey Anderson, who whacked 67 from 62 deliveries.
The prospect of chasing 350-odd to win the match today was far from daunting, he said.
''It is a pretty good batting track out there,'' Watling said.
''The outfield is quick enough, so hopefully, we take the last wicket [early] and look to chase the total down.''
Anderson and Watling helped New Zealand post 349 for seven declared, in reply to England's first innings total of 426.
The bowling attack then got to work. Strike bowler Neil Wagner (two for 56 from 19) was perhaps the most challenging. But Mark Gillespie also kept his chances of playing in the test series alive, taking four for 87 from 16 overs.
Earlier, New Zealand resumed on 224 for six and added 125 runs, at about six runs an over, and declared 25min before lunch.
England lost four wickets in the afternoon session. But having crashed to 67 for four, it rebounded through Matt Prior's positive innings of 68 from 76 deliveries.
Ian Bell (38) and Graeme Swann (41 not out) added 60 for the ninth wicket and at stumps England was 256 for nine.
It got a few too many runs at the end of the day for Watling's liking, though.
''Swann ended up on 40-odd and played some positive cricket at the end and so did Bell. It was a little bit disappointing not to pick up those last two wickets.
''But, all and all, the boys ran in hard - and to have them nine down is a good effort by our quicks.''
England will be weighing up whether to retain opener Nick Compton or not. He was undone for one when Gillespie struck him on the gloves and the ball ballooned gently to the keeper.
Rival Joe Root also missed out but has looked in better touch than Compton.
For the Black Caps, Hamish Rutherford has almost certainly cemented a spot after his innings of 90 on day two. But the battle between Wagner and Gillespie for the fourth seamer's spot has been complicated by Otago all-rounder Jimmy Neesham, who took four wickets in England's first innings and must come into the reckoning, as well.
