Zimbabwean memories of the Basin Reserve pitch where they were beaten at their last outing are vivid and they are expecting some liveliness in the first session on Boxing Day.

They lost four wickets in the first session when batting first in that game and will be mindful of that when considering their options should they win the toss.

"We'll see if there is any moisture. But if we get in and bowl first that first session is pretty important," captain Heath Streak said.

The side has been hit by losing the experience of Grant Flower with a broken finger and also Dirk Viljoen who has an injury.

It is a situation New Zealand could have some sympathy for, if it hadn't been subject to similar problems at its own expense already this summer.

But the sentiments expressed by Streak will be familiar to New Zealanders.

"Hopefully, one of the young guys will take their opportunity and fill the gap. It has given them a challenge," he said.

The presence of Canterbury's Chris Martin, one of the finds of the season as a replacement on the tour of South Africa, will add some interest now only for New Zealand fans, but for the Zimbabweans as well who know the other bowlers in the side.

"We've seen a little bit of him," Streak said, "he'll be something different to cope with," he said.

While the Test in Wellington is a prelude to the higher stakes in Australia against the home team and the West Indies in the limited overs series over there, the Zimbabweans are keen to make the most of the chance to play international cricket.

And that has to be good for hopes of a positive Test at the Basin Reserve.

Streak admits that the men's side has had something of a challenge put in front of them as the result of the CLEAR White Ferns winning the CricInfo Women's World Cup on Saturday.

Streak was impressed with what he saw.

"We wouldn't mind drafting a few of them in to help us," he said.

Play starts in the match at 12 noon on Boxing Day.

© CricInfo