New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming conceded one of his openers was in a "fragile" mental state but he remains optimistic that his team can again unsettle Australia when the countries' Test series resumes in Hobart tomorrow.

The Black Caps' plans hit a snag earlier the week when upper order batsman Matthew Bell continued a run of outs in the midst of a frustrating 17-run defeat at the hands of South Australia in Adelaide.

But, speaking on the eve of the Second Test at the picturesque Bellerive Oval in Hobart, Fleming said his team is geared for another challenge against an Australian team that it nearly conquered in the first match of the three-Test series in Brisbane two weeks ago.

"It comes down to intent. We've tried to have intent all the way through the series, and in our preparation. If we can play positive cricket, and take the game to them, there are going to be periods where we can dominate," remarked Fleming.

"We're a pretty cocky bunch.

"If we can ruffle feathers - which I think we've done a little bit - our development will improve a lot quicker.

"We did that the other day (in the First Test). We saw Steve Waugh under pressure, I saw him under pressure - and I loved it.

"The only thing that nags me is that we don't want to do it through declarations. We want to do it through playing well. The greatest thing for me is to set up an opportunity to win on the fifth day having played good cricket for four days.

"We haven't put that all together yet."

The Kiwis' hopes of securing a first Test win over Australia in eight years would be boosted in no small measure by a return to form from Bell.

"He's probably a little fragile," conceded Fleming of the 24-year old's current state of mind.

"It's a (case of a) guy being tested at its best. He's got the support of the team and he's definitely got the support of me.

"I think you've seen a guy who is under pressure and who's gone searching instead of staying true to the things that worked for him over the last 12 months in New Zealand and against Pakistan.

"He's just got to be very sure about what he's doing ... it's our job to give him confidence and (help him) stay with what he knows."

His captain might be well placed to help him if he wins the toss tomorrow, permitting New Zealand's three pacemen a shot at gaining first use of a pitch expected to offer Bellerive's traditional early assistance before it develops into a more reliable batting surface.

"We came down here expecting a juicy New Zealand green seamer - which is what we read from Adelaide - but it looks a pretty good wicket," Fleming concluded.

"I understand that it moves around a lot on the first day here."

Curator Peter Apps agreed in saying that, though Bellerive had gained a reputation of being a batsman's paradise, the rye-grass pitch in use for this match should have consistent pace and bounce.

"We used it here once last year (when paceman Mike Kasprowicz bowled Queensland to an emphatic innings victory), and it had all the characteristics I like in cricket wickets: good pace, good bounce. It's good to bat on, but a bowler can still put one through."

In Australia's second-driest capital city behind Adelaide - and at the only venue in the country where an international match has not been disrupted by poor weather at any stage over the last three years - it all makes for the possibility of an intriguing five days.

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd