The Black Caps impressed with a 10-wicket win against Sri Lanka but the cracks were there for all to see in the squeaky win against Bangladesh.
Once Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor were back in the hut, the rest of the batting order looked awfully vulnerable.
There is at least one all-rounder too many clogging up a frail middle order.
Neither Jimmy Neesham nor Colin de Grandhomme really fit the bill. Neesham is a liability at the bowling crease and de Grandhomme is easily out-thought at the batting crease.
The Black Caps have tried to overcome the weakness by playing both and keeping their fingers crossed one of them comes off.
They might get away with that against Afghanistan but what about some of the bigger games?
The Black Caps play India on Thursday night and they are likely to need more runs from that middle order.
With that in mind they are going to have to strengthen the batting. Henry Nicholls looked to have cemented a top-order place but has been struggling with an injury. If he is fit perhaps he could slot in at No6 in place of Neesham.
De Grandhomme is bowling well enough to keep his spot. But perhaps Mitchell Santner could bat a spot higher if needs must and you could drop de Grandhomme for Ish Sodhi if the conditions warrant playing a second spinner.
Losing both Neesham and de Grandhomme would strip the middle order of some finishing power. But Nicholls' presence would give the batting line-up a more solid look with the exception of being stuck with the flaky Colin Munro at the top.
He has a terrible one-day record but maybe he is worth a punt still.
If you wanted to get really radical, Nicholls could open ahead of Munro and Tom Blundell could come into the squad at No 6.
Out of the 15 players available, that mix arguably offers the strongest batting line-up.
Tim Southee will be eager for a bowl but Matt Henry has seven wickets in two games, Trent Boult picked up his 150th ODI wicket in the win against Bangladesh and Lockie Ferguson brings raw pace.
There is no need to tinker with the seaming line-up. Southee's form during the last four years as been poor but he has vast experience.
Stead could name an unchanged line-up overnight. But the very fact there are so many questions does chip away at one's confidence.
Black Caps v Afghanistan
Taunton, tomorrow, 12.30am
Black Caps: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Tom Blundell, Henry Nicholls, Ish Sodhi.
Afghanistan: Gulbadin Naib, Aftab Alam, Asghar Afghan, Dawlat Zadran, Hamid Hassan, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Hazratullah Zazai, Ikram Ali Khil, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Najibullah Zadran, Noor Ali Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Rashid Khan, Samiullah Shinwari.
Other games this weekend
England v Bangladesh, Cardiff, tonight, 9.30pm
Australia v India, The Oval, tomorrow, 9.30pm
