Captain Kane Williamson hopes enthusiasm can keep rustiness at bay when his New Zealand team emerge from seven months' hibernation to face Pakistan in the UAE.
The Black Caps have endured one of the longest breaks afforded any contemporary international team, having last played in early April when they clinched a home Test series win over England.
Since then the Pakistanis have played 28 games and deservedly climbed to the top of the world Twenty20 rankings, having gone unbeaten in their last 10 series in the shortest format.
That includes last week's 3-0 trouncing of Australia, where spinners Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim were irresistible in the slow conditions while Babar Azam showed why he's the top-ranked T20 batsman.
The T20 series, starting in Abu Dhabi on Thursday morning (AEST), is a daunting first assignment for new coach Gary Stead, who replaced the successful Mike Hesson in August.
Stead is without accomplished pair Martin Guptill and Mitchell Santner because of injury and new ball spearhead Trent Boult, on parental leave.
Rising wicketkeeper/batsman Glenn Phillips is set to replace Guptill as opener alongside Colin Munro, who dominated the Caribbean Premier League with his big hitting.
Santner's spot is effectively taken by uncapped left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, the 30-year-old who has dominated the Kiwi domestic scene in recent seasons.
Those two additions, along with a handful of other Black Caps, were involved in a New Zealand A series against Pakistan A to provide invaluable match practice.
Williamson hopes those players and others, such as himself, who were kept busy in global T20 leagues, won't be far off the pace.
"It is an unusually long time between internationals but I guess that makes the guys very excited to get back involved," he said.
"Pakistan are a very strong side and that's something we've known for a long time.
"They're extremely strong in these conditions, their world ranking suggests that as well."
Much interest surrounds the return of allrounder Corey Anderson, whose return from back surgery more than a year ago has been arduous.
The tour comprises a three-match series in all three formats.
