The BLACKCAPS' return to Test cricket represents a chance to improve their standing in the ICC Test Championship table.
Even a 2-0 victory in the two-match National Bank Series against Bangladesh will not lift the BLACKCAPS from seventh-place, but victory at both Dunedin and Wellington will earn two ratings points.
That haul would cut the three-point advantage held by sixth-placed Pakistan to one.
Anything less than a clean sweep would see the hosts lose points – as many as 12 if the Tigers spring a shock victory.
Stephen Fleming is the only batsman from either side in the top 20, at 13th.
Daniel Vettori and Jacob Oram are the next best, in 36 and 37th respectively, while Brendon McCullum is the only other batsman in the current squad in the top 50.
The BLACKCAPS have three players in the top 20 for Test bowlers, but of those, only 18th place Chris Martin will be available.
Vettori is the next best bowler, in 24th position, while he is ranked fourth among Test all-rounders.
1 Australia 143
2 South Africa109
3 Sri Lanka 109
4 India 109
5 England 107
6 Pakistan 94
7 BLACKCAPS 91
8 West Indies 72
9 Bangladesh 4
