While there are plenty of people writing the Kiwis off ahead of the Rugby League World Cup, veteran winger Jason Nightingale is viewing the tournament as a great opportunity for his side to prove the doubters wrong.
The Kiwis have not played a Test match in New Zealand since 2014, and with all their pool games to be played on home soil, they see this as a chance to try to win back some of their fans after a difficult 12 months.
But New Zealand are missing a number of high-profile players, including Cowboys enforcer Jason Taumalolo, but Nightingale has told Trackside Radio the team still believes they can achieve something special something special.
"I think we are used to the underdog tag, but I guess everybody has something to prove and we are no different," Nightingale told Trackside Radio.
"There is no better place to prove what you do have on your home soil and this is an opportunity to put our name back in the headlines and make this we represent this country and jersey proud.
"There is a new feel, there are not too many new faces but there is enough to keep you on your toes and to make it all that extra little exciting for those people - and those old fellas too."
The Kiwis open their World Cup campaign on October 28 when they face Samoa at Mt Smart Stadium.
Unlike most of the other nations, the Kiwis have opted not to play at least one warm-up match before the World Cup, instead using their time giving back to grassroots footy and bonding as a team.
Nightingale doesn't think that will hurt the Kiwis.
"We have trained and done things together, so it isn't like we completely new together.
"If you saw what the other boys did in Fiji with the Papua New Guniea and Aussie boys, it was like a bit of footy and a holiday so we just did it the other way around.
"But we are excited to be back in camp and not having a warm-up game we are very much looking forward to having a run against Samoa on Saturday night."
Nightingale has featured in 32 Test matches since making his debut in 2008, and as the 31-year-old prepares for his third World Cup, he admits he is unsure if he will represent New Zealand again in the future, as he is considering retirement from international football.
"It is something I will evaluate midway through this tournament then make a decision on that towards the end to try not disrupt anything.
"I have been proud and grateful to be a part of this tournament and I have one more year at the Dragons but who knows how long I'll want to play for, or they will let me play for.
"It would be a great way to sign off but I'll keep thinking while I have plenty of time sitting in maraes and hotel rooms and make a decision at the end of the tournament. Not sure yet but it depends on how well we go in this tournament."
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