Test cricket returns to Christchurch on Boxing Day, almost three years after the devastating earthquake which killed 185 people.
Nerves are on edge as the city was jolted by a small quake on Christmas Eve, though there was no damage.
Canterbury Cricket chief Lee Germon said the Test would be the culmination of three years of hard work.
“To get that first ball bowled on the first day of the Test match will be a huge sense of satisfaction,” Germon, a former New Zealand wicketkeeper and captain said.
“To me, this is a true Test match ground,” he added of the venue, which sold out its 8,000-capacity for the first day. “When I walked out there, as a past player, it made me feel like playing the game.
“The feedback we have seen from guys who have seen grounds all around the world, has been hugely positive. To me that’s really satisfying.”
New Zealand are aiming to continue their impressive recent results, which have seen them draw with Pakistan in the UAE and beat the West Indies away in their last two series.
The team has been galvanised under the captaincy of Brendon McCullum, with the only concern in the top five the opening partnership, with Hamish Rutherford given another opportunity to prove his credentials alongside impressive rookie Tom Latham.
The hugely experienced Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and McCullum make up the top five, and a long tail will be led by the increasingly impressive wicketkeeper BJ Watling.
Sri Lanka are using the Tests partly to get used to New Zealand conditions ahead of the World Cup. Their first match is against the Black Caps at the Hagley Oval on Valentine’s Day.
Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath will miss the first, and possibly the second Test with a leg injury. Herath’s absence could be a blessing for New Zealand given he has taken 31 wickets at 19.58 in four Tests against the hosts and is the top Test wicket taker in 2014 with 60 in 10 matches.
The teams last met in New Zealand in 2006 and Sri Lanka has won only two of 13 Tests in the country.
“I haven’t been to New Zealand before. Most of us haven’t, except for a few senior guys,” Mathews said. “It’s going to be a challenging tour; it’s going to be tough.”
Sri Lanka go into the two-match Test series with very little red-ball cricket under their belts, having played long one-day series with India and England.
They will be facing very different conditions, with the ball likely to swing, and there the Kiwis have the advantage with Tim Southee and Trent Boult in the line-up.
Watling said: “Hopefully, it’s swinging around and the pitch has got a bit more bounce and carry and that can really test the Sri Lankan team.”
Watling said New Zealand enter the match with their confidence high. “That comes with winning games and winning series,” he said.
“The one-day boys had a great series win (over Pakistan) and to draw the Test series and come away with a Test win, the boys are pretty confident.”
