Tom Blundell of the Black Caps Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Black Caps wicketkeeper Tom Blundell says he'll play the first test against South Africa starting on Sunday at Mt Maunganui.
Blundell has been troubled with a hamstring injury for the last month and hasn't been able to play domestic cricket for Wellington.
However, he's confident he'll be behind the stumps come Sunday with his hamstring feeling good.
"It's tracking nicely, I've done a lot of work in the last couple of weeks and I'm good to go," he told RNZ.
"I was gutted I missed the Super Smash but I'm just happy to be back playing."
He says he's been batting for the last couple of weeks and kept wickets earlier this week so is happy with where he's at.
Blundell says the South African players will be coming with a point to prove in the two-test series.
The Proteas have come under scrutiny for sending a second-string side with its top players comitted to the country's domestic T20 competiton.
However, Blundell says no Proteas side is an easy beat.
"Those guys will be hungry, they'll be hungry to prove a point.
"They're quality players, a lot of them average over 40 in their domestic comp so we're not going to take them lightly."
New Zealand has never beaten South Africa in a test series.