The BLACKCAPS open their tri-series campaign in Australia facing the hosts at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval.
The world champions set the pace with an eight-wicket win over England in Melbourne on Friday, while the BLACKCAPS crossed the Tasman after a drawn National Bank ODI series with Sri Lanka.
The return to Australia has been welcomed by Shane Bond, who believes his career stepped up a notch when he was awarded the man of the series honour in the BLACKCAPS run to the 2002 final.
Speaking from Tasmania, Bond said: "My confidence and the way I thought about my cricket switched up a gear after that to really positive. That is the way I've played ever since."
Bond’s record against the home team is up there with any bowler in world cricket.
He has accounted for 24 of their batsmen in his seven matches, at 11.87, and the only time he went wicket less against Australian was in this season’s Champions Trophy.
Bond has taken eight wickets in six ODI matches since the start of the Indian campaign, at 28.75.
He said: "I haven't bowled as well as I'd like but the encouraging thing is I'm still okay and taking wickets.
"But I always look for positives, and I'm a better player and a smarter player through all the injuries. I had to go away and take control of my career and I think I've done that and I'm a better player."
The BLACKCAPS have their 14-man squad to choose from, while Australia fast bowler Brett Lee is recovering from bronchitis.
England, who the BLACKCAPS face on Tuesday, took an extra blow during their defeat at the MCG, with key batsman Kevin Pietersen was ruled out of the rest of the series with a fractured rib.
BLACKCAPS: Stephen Fleming (c), Andre Adams, Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, James Franklin, Peter Fulton, Mark Gillespie, Hamish Marshall, Michael Mason, Brendon McCullum, Craig McMillan, Jeetan Patel, Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori.
Australia: Ricky Ponting (c), Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Cameron White, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark, Nathan Bracken, Glenn McGrath.
Past BLACKCAPS ODIs at Bellerive Oval, Hobart
v Sri Lanka
World Series Cup 1987/88
12 January 1988
Sri Lanka won by four wickets
v Australia
World Series Cup 1990/91
18 December 1990
BLACKCAPS won by one run
v South Africa
World Series Cup 1993/94
18 December 1993
BLACKCAPS won by four wickets
v South Africa
Tri-Series 1997/98
11 December 1997
South Africa won by one run
v South Africa
Tri-Series 2001/02
15 January 2002
South Africa won by 26 runs
- Australia v BLACKCAPS, live scores from 12midday NZT at BLACKCAPS.co.nz
