The BLACKCAPS’ ICC World Cup bid continues into the Super Eight Series stage with at tough assignment against the hosting West Indies in Antigua.
With two points carried over from the first round – any points earned against a fellow first-round qualifier are taken through – a good start to this quarter-final stage will ease their passage to the last four.
However, the New Zealanders will field a much-changed team when they take the pitch at Antigua’s Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Hamish Marshall arrived on the island this week as a replacement for the unfortunate Lou Vincent, who broke his wrist.
Marshall is likely to move straight into the side, taking Ross Taylor’s number three spot, with Peter Fulton or Brendon McCullum likely candidates to replace Vincent at the top of the order.
Opening bowlers Shane Bond and James Franklin may also return to the side.
Fellow pacemen Mark Gillespie and Chris Martin will also be in contention, although Michael Mason is the man to dislodge, having played against Canada.
Fleming admitted: "It's been a dramatic week, with Lou going and Rosco (Taylor) working hard on getting back.
"It's changed the balance of the side. But the core is still there, and the bonus has been we've had six days to adjust.
"It's not as big a surprise or shock as it would be if we'd been set with one team to win the World Cup.
"There's a number of players that can fill roles - and we've seen them come to the fore now."
Brian Lara will lead his team out for a third successive day after their first Super Eight Series match against Australia was delayed overnight.
The hosts are looking for their first win of the round after defeat to the world champions.
Lara said: "New Zealand are a very good one-day outfit, so we are not going to take them any more lightly than Australia.
"They are coming back off not just the first round but their performances against Australia in New Zealand, so they are very high in confidence.
"We know it's going to be a tough job tomorrow - but we are confident we can get our act together."
BLACKCAPS (from): Stephen Fleming (captain), Shane Bond, James Franklin, Peter Fulton, Mark Gillespie, Hamish Marshall, Chris Martin, Michael Mason, Brendon McCullum, Craig McMillan, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Scott Styris, Daniel Vettori.
West Indies: Brian Lara (captain), Ian Bradshaw, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Corey Collymore, Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor
West Indies v BLACKCAPS, Friday 30 March (NZ time). Follow the match online at BLACKCAPS.co.nz, on Radio Sport and live on Sky Sports TV.
