Chris Cairns acknowledged before flying out to Australia to join the CLEAR Black Caps today that the prospect of taking on the world champions had hastened his recovery from knee surgery.

Cairns did not fly to Australia with the team in order to complete his rehabilitation with matches in Christchurch for the New Zealand Academy team against Otago and the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy.

"It is fair to say that if it wasn't Australia my return may have taken a little longer.

"But the challenge of taking on the best in the world is too great," he said.

"It's always a battle over there. You cop so much, not only from their crowds but from the television. It is a real mental battle."

Cairns, whose last significant act in cricket was to score the match-winning century against India that saw New Zealand claim the ICC KnockOut in Nairobi a year ago this week, had surgery on his right knee after Christmas last year. It is the second time he has had knee surgery.

The previous occasion in the mid-1990s was on his left knee and the advances in medical technology and rehabilitation techniques have been reflected in his recovery this time.

"Last time it was almost a year to a year and a half before I was back to normal.

"But this time it has been six to eight months. And that has to be a credit to the time and energy put in by Warren Frost [New Zealand's fitness advisor]. I've been out to Lincoln three or four times a week and it has been great having someone to train with and to push me," Cairns said.

He was unable to quantify a figure on how close to peak fitness he was. But he felt ready for action, if a little underdone, something he hopes to put right before the first Test starts in Brisbane on November 8.

Cairns' ability as an all-rounder is a key asset for Stephen Fleming as New Zealand lines up against the toughest opposition in the game. He is the most experienced player in the side against the Australians since first playing them as an 18-year-old in Perth in 1989.

It is a reflection of the injury problems he has endured in his career that his next Test appearance will be his 50th. He is already New Zealand's second-highest wicket-taker in Tests with 171 wickets while a productive summer with the bat could shoot him into the top 10 of New Zealand's all-time Test run scorers.

Cairns said the key aspect of playing the Australians was to have the mental side of your game in shape.

"Persistence will be the big thing for us there. We have to try and stay with them. They won't be beaten in three or four days, but if we are there on the fifth we could have a chance."

Telegraphing that intent to the Australians would result in pressure going on from the outset of Tests.

"But we have to absorb that and frustrate them," he said.

While most attention has been on his bowling recovery, Cairns said he felt he was hitting the ball well.

"Though I won't get as many loose balls over there. The runs/ball ratio won't be so good," he said.

Cairns did say that the warmer weather in Australia would be a boost for his bowling, and he had no qualms that New Zealand had not been given a Test match in the golden triangle, of Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.

The last time New Zealand played a Test on any of those grounds was in 1987.

"It doesn't worry me. Brisbane has the best wicket in Australia while at Perth it slides through nicely and Hobart is more like New Zealand conditions. Personally, I'm quite happy with where we are playing," he said.

© CricInfo