Stead will field a Black Caps side tomorrow without key batsmen Ross Taylor, who has a hamstring tear, and captain Kane Williamson, who has an elbow injury.
Devon Conway and Will Young are likely to come in to replace the experienced duo. Stead is full of confidence the two new faces will handle the step up.
"The opportunity for Devon and Will to come into those positions is really exciting for them. They are both fine players, we have seen in the past, as well as the domestic form, and the international game to date. So I’m really looking forward to the opportunity they will get," Stead said.
"They are two positions in the order we have a lot of depth in, and a lot of strength in. Devon and Will, who have waited to have this turn — they will be up for it and put their best foot forward."
He said there could be three debutants tomorrow but there was still a real core of experience in the side. The depth in the team was starting to come through and was not making his job any easier to select who would take the field.
"It is exciting as a coach when you sit around the selection table and you start looking at the names and the people you expect to come through, the way they are developing, and it is hard to write 15 names down when there could be up to 30 vying for those spots."
He pointed to the NZ A programmes and the domestic scene which were adding to the depth of the Black Caps.
The side has not played a lot of one-day cricket of late, as test and twenty20 versions of the game take priority.
Its last game in the 50-over format was the ill-fated game in Sydney in late March last year played in front of no crowds as Covid-19 swept the world.
He acknowledged that game seemed a long time ago.
"We have not played a lot of one-day cricket lately but the good thing is guys are coming off the Ford Trophy with some freshness and some good form as well. Sometimes one-day international cricket can be few and far between as it has been a long while since we played."
He said the skills were different from test or twenty20 cricket.
"We try to pride ourselves in being adaptable to the situation and it will be no different to the game on Saturday."
The side had a good record in Dunedin and at the Oval, and was looking forward to performing in front of what was expected to be a full house tomorrow.
