The Black Caps batting coach Craig McMillan says the one day international series against Sri Lanka will give everyone in the 15-man world cup cricket squad an opportunity to impress.
Ross Taylor's being rested for the opening ODI Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Ross Taylor and Tim Southee are being rested for Sunday's first of seven ODIs against Sri Lanka.
With Black Caps bowler Kyle Mills still not 100 percent, Adam Milne, Mitchell McClenaghan and Trent Boult are vertially assured to bowl in Christchurch.
Matt Henry, who was unlucky not to make the cricket world cup squad, will come in as cover.
The Black Caps batting coach Craig McMillan says with so many matches ahead of them it's not feasible to play just one starting 11, building up to the world cup.
"There's a lot of cricket now between game one against Sri Lanka here early February so we get to see a lot of different players in different positions, in different scenarios and I guess put them under pressure, test them, see how they react to that. But it really is I think the ideal lead-up heading into that world cup."
The Black Caps play seven ODIs against Sri Lanka, two against Pakistan, and have a couple of warm-up matches before the World Cup.