Blackcaps coach Gary Stead has hinted his side may fight fire with fire, when they open their test series against England at Mt Maunganui on Thursday.
With Barbados-born speedster Jofra Archer likely to spearhead the tourists' bowling attack at Bay Oval, the New Zealand team are seriously considering the option of injecting their own heat to the contest, with Lockie Ferguson poised for his international red-ball debut.
Archer and Ferguson were both among the fastest bowlers at the Cricket World Cup earlier this year, with the former occasionally topping 150kph. Against Bangladesh, he bowled a thunder bolt that shattered the wickets and ricocheted over the boundary rope on the full.
"It's obviously a point of difference, but we've got someone in our squad who bowls at a similar type of speed as well," says Stead.
"That's pretty exciting for Lockie and a potential debut for him at some stage to be able to fight fire with fire.
"In terms of the balance of the squad we have at the moment, we have five pace bowlers who offer us slightly different things."
During the weekend's warm-up game against New Zealand A at Whangarei, batsman Glen Phillips, who top-scored in both innings for the home side, described Archer as the fastest bowler he'd ever faced.
"I think every time he bowls, he bowls with heat, so I don't think that should surprise anyone," reflects Stead. "He's a world-class player, and started in the Ashes with a real hiss and a roar.
"For us, it's a matter of getting used to that extra pace and combating it, and working out a way you can continue to score.
"Jofra Archer will be a threat, but he can only bowl from one end."
Stead says pitch conditions would ultimately dictate which of his pace-bowling corps - Trent Boult, Tim Southeee, Neil Wagner, Matt Henry and Ferguson - start the two-match series.
"It's whether we think [Ferguson] will be a greater threat and factor than other bowlers in the line-up," says Stead.
"It's looking at things like conditions and... I'm loathe to use the world 'rotation', because that's not what we're about, but we'll pick horses for courses and also that we have five tests in about a six-week period as well."
Bay Oval will host its first test match and no-one really knows what the pitch will do over five days.
"We have played some first-class cricket here," Stead says. "It's difficult, because there hasn't been history, but I guess that's what playing your first game is all about."
Stead virtually ruled out taking an all-pace attack into the match, suggesting a spin option would still be needed as the pitch wears.
