Fifty years ago New Zealand achieved their first ever Test win, against the same opponents at the same Eden Park venue.

"The first Test win is very special. It's almost an announcement to the cricketing world and we're very proud of that date so it does have special significance," Fleming said Wednesday.

"It's been a theme for the last three or four days and it will continue during the Test."

As a batsman, Fleming is not particularly looking forward to what is expected to be a fast, bouncy pitch for the first of three Tests. But he believes his pace attack, led by spearhead Shane Bond, should make the best use of it.

"They (West Indies) have good pace at the top and will use a seaming pitch quite well, so I can't see a massive edge," he told reporters.

"But our boys will be more conditioned to bowling a better length at Test match level and if there's something in the pitch I would like to think we could use it a little bit more."

Opening batsman Jamie How is expected to make his Test debut and will be partnered by Hamish Marshall, who has played his eight Tests at three or four in the order. Next in line is likely to be another new cap, Peter Fulton.

New Zealand have struggled to find consistent form at the top of the order and Fleming is hoping the new faces will turn that around. The dropping of the experienced Lou Vincent, who scored a century in the fourth one-day match, was the focus of controversy in naming the Test squad.

"It hasn't really been a strong position for us, we haven't dominated the opening roles or the one, two and three (batting positions) for some time," Fleming said.

"So we're hoping these guys will make a good fist of it and make it easier for the older hands coming in afterwards."

Master batsman Brian Lara, the world's leading Test runs scorer, said Tuesday the Test series could be the turning point for the West Indies following their 4-1 defeat in the one-day internationals against the New Zealanders.

Recent history gives no cause for optimism. The West Indies have lost eight of their last 11 Tests and won only one. In the two-match series in the Caribbean in 2002 New Zealand won 1-0 and took the last home series 2-0 two years earlier.

But New Zealand may take some time to adjust to their first five-day game since a series against a feeble Zimbabwe last September.

Lara and opening bowler Jerome Taylor will beef up the West Indies Test side after missing the one-day series and Fidel Edwards should also be able to exploit the pace-friendly pitch.

All rounder Dwayne Bravo is still suffering a side strain which caused him to miss the one-dayers but team management said he is being considered as a specialist batsman.

For New Zealand, pace bowler Chris Martin is expected to return after not being picked for the one-dayers. Martin took 11 wickets against South Africa on the same ground two years ago in a nine-wicket victory for the Kiwis.

Likely teams:

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Jamie How, Hamish Marshall, Peter Fulton, Scott Styris, Nathan Astle, Brendon McCullum, James Franklin, Daniel Vettori, Shane Bond, Chris Martin.

West Indies: Shivnarine Chanderpaul (captain), Chris Gayle, Daren Ganga, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Dwayne Smith, Daren Powell, Fidel Edwards, Jerome Taylor.