That does not mean New Zealand will start favourites for their three-test rubber in November.
But it should ensure they will start the series in Brisbane with tails up and a high expectation of, at the least, being seriously competitive against opponents who have a major restructuring operation to mount.
So what sort of XI might Australia's selectors come up with?
Captain Michael Clarke is gone, or will be after the final Ashes test next week; gobby wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, all-rounder Shane Watson, and doughty opener Chris Rogers almost certainly won't be there, Rogers having indicated the England series will be his last.
David Warner is being touted as Steven Smith's vice-captain. Talk about poachers and gamekeepers.
The easy part first. The bowlers will still likely pick themselves from a small pool - Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, veteran Peter Siddle and perhaps the returning James Pattinson, who caused havoc to New Zealand four years ago, are the Australian seam options.
Nathan Lyon is the pick of their spinners and Peter Nevill is the first cab to follow Haddin as wicketkeeper. His batting certainly looks iffy against the seaming ball.
It's possible only Warner and Smith among the batsmen will survive to face New Zealand from the Ashes humiliation.
Among the candidates to come in are Usman Khawaja, who played both tests against New Zealand in 2011, but hasn't been sighted in the test side for two years, and averages a less-than-inspiring 25.13 over nine tests.
Then there's Joe Burns, the Queenslander who played two tests against India last summer, making a brace of half centuries in Sydney. He has his backers.
Or how about Cameron Bancroft, a West Australian opener with that old-fashioned value rarely seen in modern batsmen, stickability.
Bancroft, 22, averages 37 in first-class cricket, but it's worth noting he hit a double century against New South Wales last season, spending two days at the crease; and took over a day in making 150 against India A last month in Chennai.
Beleaguered chairman of selectors Rod Marsh has called for Australia's batsmen to be selfish - "that seems to me to be not wanting to get out and wanting to occupy the crease longer than anyone else in your team".
His old captain, Ian Chappell, says "the art of survival is on the way out".
Which is why Bancroft might be a name to remember.
Whatever, New Zealand's anticipation should be high for what lies ahead in November.
