Just as New Zealand are struggling for an identifiable line-up, again tinkering with the troublesome opening slot, Sri Lanka have form on their side.

This year they drew a three-Test series in England and then whitewashed South Africa 2-0 at home, a series notable for the world record 624-run partnership between Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.

New Zealand meanwhile are coming off a 0-3 hiding away to South Africa after a 2-0 home win against the West Indies.

But while form favours Sri Lanka, they have a wretched record in New Zealand -- a Test win in the 1994-95 season is their sole success from 11 matches.

"Our record in that area isn't as good as we'd like it to be," said coach Tom Moody, the former Australian Test cricketer.

"But we did pretty well in England and we're looking forward to making more progress in New Zealand."

Moody is looking to Sanath Jaya-suriya, Upul Tharanga, Sangakkara and skipper Jayawardene to put enough runs on the board for an attack spearheaded by Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralidaran to defend.

Vass and Muralidaran sat out the warm-up game against Otago last week but the batsmen enjoyed time in the middle with the top and middle order all passing 50, and in Tharanga's case three figures.

Sangakkara, who has surrendered the wicketkeeping gloves to focus on his batting, is confident their luck is about to change in New Zealand.

"Everyone's in form, I reckon. It's just a matter of adapting pretty quickly to different conditions to what we've been playing in.

"With the volume of cricket we've played (England, South Africa and the Champions Trophy) and the conditions we've been through, we've adapted very well. Right now the guys have no complaints."

Although New Zealand's wickets are now less of a mystery to the Sri Lankans, having toured down under for the past three years, Moody took no chances by training the squad on green, seaming wickets before leaving Colombo.

New Zealand meanwhile are under no illusion about the challenge confronting them in a welcome diversion from a steady diet of one-dayers.

"The last time we saw them (in a Test) they were probably at the start of an upward curve. We beat them quite comprehensively but it's probably not a true reflection of the side they are at the moment," said spinner Daniel Vettori.

New Zealand, who seem to be incessantly searching for a reliable top order, have brought back Craig Cumming and Mathew Sinclair.

Cumming, who scored 74 on debut against the Australians, will partner Jamie How as coach John Bracewell opts for two specialists, ending a trend of employing makeshift openers.

But their records do not make flash reading with Cumming having an average of 26 from five Tests and How averaging 12.

Sinclair, who famously made 214 on debut against the West Indies in 1999, has rarely been an automatic selection and last played -- unsuccessfully as an opener -- against Australia in Adelaide in November 2004.

An untimely knee injury to swing bowler Kyle Mills sees Iain O'Brien recalled to bolster the pace battery spearheaded by Shane Bond.

Teams
New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Craig Cumming, Jamie How, Mathew Sinclair, Nathan Astle, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Shane Bond, Chris Martin, Ian O'Brien (12th man to be named).

Sri Lanka (from): Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedera, Chamara Silva, Prasanna Jayawardene, Farvez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Akalanka Ganegama, Muttiah Muralidaran.