"We are confident but we are also very aware that New Zealand were missing a number of their best players (in the one-day series in Pakistan earlier this month)," Inzamam told reporters.

"I am hoping the momentum can continue but every match is a new one."

Inzamam said that Pakistan would play positive cricket in this month's two-Test series.

Coach Javed Miandad would give no hints on the Pakistan team but Shoaib Malik could take the spinner's berth from Danish Kaneria, who picked up five for 70 on Tuesday on the third and final day of the match against Auckland.

Miandad, though, may dispense with spin completely and pick batsman Asim Kamal instead of either Malik or Kaneria.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said he was relieved to be back in the side.

Fleming had to fly home early after sustaining an abdominal strain during the latter stages of the recent tour of India and there were fears he had suffered a hernia.

But a specialist suggested he kept playing and Fleming came through with flying colours when he turned out for Wellington in a recent four-day State Championship match.

"I felt absolutely fine during the match and have felt nothing since, so continuing to play did the trick," Fleming said