Pondering their thoughts for the New Zealand team to return to Australia for the VB Series with Australia and South Africa, the selectors face some difficult philosophical considerations.

At the back of their minds must be the last one-day side they chose, to tour Pakistan. That tour ended with the side not having made it beyond Singapore before they were recalled after the events of September 11 in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

That side, as a reminder, was: Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, James Franklin, Chris Harris, Craig McMillan, Kyle Mills, Chris Nevin, Dion Nash, Jacob Oram, Mathew Sinclair, Glen Sulzberger, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent.

Of that side, the only players subsequently unavailable due to injury are Oram and probably Astle.

So have things changed that much?

There is clearly a problem with the opening position.

Nevin was in the original selection, and backed that up with a timely 87 not out for Wellington today, the only batsman to shine in tricky conditions in Queenstown. The question with Nevin may well be determined by whether the selectors stick with their view that Adam Parore needs to have a break from his Test wicket-keeping duties to be fresh for when England comes.

What has changed for him? An outstanding series 'keeping in Australia and a second Test century. Will that be sufficient to cause the selectors to veer from their original policy?

Sinclair was also there for Pakistan, but he suffered a form decline in Australia and batting down the order in the second Test against Bangladesh was left stranded when the declaration was applied. However, he scored 90 off 118 balls for Central Districts yesterday. Will that be enough to satisfy the selectors?

He does have another chance today against Northern Districts.

The call has gone out for Auckland's Mark Richardson and there is no doubt that he has been one of the in-form contributors to New Zealand's Test performances this year. He has no international one-day experience but has a chance tomorrow also against CD to convince the selectors.

There was a chance that Otago's Brendon McCullum could make the side but his early dismissal in Queenstown today for eight would not have pushed his cause at all.

Fleming, McMillan, Vincent, Chris Cairns, Harris and Vettori then pick themselves.

Andre Adams is probably next in line among the bowlers as a potential death bowler, another problem area in recent New Zealand one-day play.

Nash then becomes the next part of the selection headache after his suspension. By missing the last four-day game, and Auckland's two one-day games, he has denied himself the chance to impress the selectors that he is fully fit for the role that would be required of him.

No matter the whys and wherefores of his suspension, the fact is that his time is served by the end of play today.

He is widely regarded for his competitive attitude by the selectors and on that score alone he is likely to be included.

Mills bowled well for Auckland today, bowling his 10 overs from the outset, and has been a considerable investment by the selectors. So too, has Franklin who also bowled tidily for Wellington.

It is unlikely both will be preferred, especially with Shane Bond's emergence with a sheer pace option that should see him included.

That also leaves Scott Styris to be considered. He was unavailable for the Pakistan side because he was recovering from injury. He played a match-winning innings for Northern Districts today of 84 not out and must be very close to consideration.

It is without a doubt the toughest one-day selection of the modern era and comes down to just what the selectors are trying to achieve with this important tournament in the World Cup lead-up.

There is also the prospect that final performances in tomorrow's round of State Shield matches could swing the selection.

Acknowledging the possibility of last-minute strengthening or diminishing of chances today the selection could be:

Stephen Fleming (captain), Chris Nevin, Mark Richardson, Mathew Sinclair, Craig McMillan, Lou Vincent, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Scott Styris, Andre Adams, Dion Nash, Shane Bond, Daniel Vettori, Kyle Mills.

© CricInfo