All the talk in the lead-up to tomorrow's first National Bank series match between New Zealand and Pakistan has been about the fearsome Pakistani bowling attack, but of equal concern is the batting line-up New Zealand must contain.

Eden Park, the scene of the most frustrating loss to Sri Lanka on Waitangi Day, offers the first taste of what New Zealand can expect during the four One-Day Internationals to follow.

Clearly, the Pakistanis offer a different challenge to that posed by the Sri Lankans.

Roger Twose : World Ranked Photo CricInfo

World-ranked ODI batsman Roger Twose summed up the Kiwi attitude of wanting to build on the last game success against Sri Lanka.

"We are very much looking forward to the series," he said.

"They will be tougher than the Sri Lankans and the level we achieved in Christchurch against Sri Lanka will have to be our minimum standard for the series.

"They have world-class batsmen in their line-up. Saeed Anwar is an explosive batter while Shahid Afridi and Moin Khan back up the likes of Inzamam-ul-Haq," he said.

The Pakistanis were the most talented team in the world, he said.

New Zealand has quite an extensive ODI rivalry in recent times. It was the Pakistanis who denied New Zealand their first appearance in a World Cup final by beating them in the 1992 semi-final at Eden Park, and then in England in 1999. But last year, New Zealand got one back when beating Pakistan in the semi-final of the ICC KnockOut tournament in Nairobi.

The onus would be on New Zealand's batsmen individually to work on their method of handling the Pakistan attack which will feature the pace of Shoaib Akhtar and Waqar Younis and the guile of Wasim Akram, and the spin of Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmed.

"We all know what they can do and what they are capable of. The skills we need against them are not too different from those required against Sri Lanka," he said.

"Saqlain is the major threat of the spinners. If he is in attacking mode playing him well will be a key," he said.

"In fact, we have to play them all well. They have such a host of talent," he said.

New Zealand didn't have the best of records against Pakistan and it would be good to get that rolling again.

"Coming off the win at Jade Stadium was rewarding. We know what we are capable of and we need to maintain that," Twose said.

Eden Park has been a source of frustration for the CLEAR Black Caps this year. The last over loss to Zimbabwe and the dreadful performance against Sri Lanka should be reminders of the effort New Zealand will require to get this series off to the best possible start.

Conditions for the day-night match which starts at 2pm are expected to be overcast with the prospect of some rain earlier in the day.

The game will be the last played on the pitch which is being dug up and replaced with a portable pitch which will be in place for the first Test against Pakistan starting in three weeks time.

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