The Black Caps fast bowler sat out the first two T20s against Pakistan.
He got to watch instead and it was good viewing.
The home team posted two chunky totals to take a 2-0 lead in the five-game series.
They can seal the series victory in Dunedin this afternoon.
Ferguson is hoping for another fast, bouncy deck like the ones on offer at Eden Park and Seddon Park.
It was "nice to watch" from a fan’s point of view, he said.
"But once again we start from zero out here. No doubt [it will be] another high-scoring affair, so I’m looking forward to the challenge.
"Dunners provides that same sort of opportunity for the bowlers. A nice wicket, good-sized boundary and, if it is a day like today, it will be a belter."
The 32-year-old right-armer has been making his way back from an Achilles complaint. But he has had three outings for the Auckland Aces in the Super Smash this year and was awfully impressive in the last of those, grabbing four for 14 against Northern Districts.
"It is feeling good so far, so touch wood it continues that way. I loved getting back with the Auckland boys."
That form is timely given the challenge ahead. Pakistan might trail in the series, but they have a quality top four, including Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam.
Azam has scored back-to-back half-centuries and all Black Caps fans know how dangerous Zaman can be. He whacked a memorable 126 not out to help Pakistan secure a 21-run Duckworth-Lewis-Stern win during pool play at the World Cup in India late last year.
With quality batters like that, you cannot just drop on a "hard length" and hope for the best. You have to keep trying to anticipate the batter and adjust your plans accordingly.
T20 is very much a batter’s game.
But Ferguson was impressed with the effort of young Wellington paceman Ben Sears, whom he is replacing for the remainder of the series.
Sears picked up four wickets in the opening two games.
"It is always good to see a young quick come through. He is working really hard on his fitness and his skill sets have been exceptional throughout.
"It has been nice to see him get an opportunity."
Those opportunities have mostly come when Ferguson has been out of the side, so the pair have not had much opportunity to work together.
Ferguson said Sears had bowled with high intensity and pace and had stayed "aggressive against a side that is probably not used to the bounce of the wickets here".
"I’ll come in and try and do the same role."
The game at the University Oval has been sold out. Capacity is 4000 and the forecast is reasonable.
Black Caps captain Kane Williamson was skipping the game in Dunedin anyway and has now been ruled out of the remainder of the series with a hamstring strain.
Central Districts right-hander Will Young has been called into the squad as a replacement.
International T20
Dunedin, 1pm today
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Tim Seifert, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Will Young.
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Aamer Jamal, Usama Mir, Shaheen Afridi, Abbas Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Wasim, Mohammad Nawaz, Haseebullah Khan, Zaman Khan, Abrar Ahmed.
