It is rare that Sri Lanka's seamers get much joy playing at home, but there are signs that given helpful conditions - and Christchurch and Wellington seem sure to offer that - they can prosper.
Their bald statistics are not flattering and, to be fair, Dushmantha Chameera is uncapped, although rated the sharpest of the five in pace.
The most successful of them is Shaminda Eranga and his role in Sri Lanka's series win in England mid year was significant, taking five wickets in the 100-run win at Leeds as part of 11 wickets in the two tests.
Dhammika Prasad, the oldest of the five, has taken 11 wickets in his last three tests.
Throw in removing Alastair Cook, Sam Robson, Gary Ballance and Ian Bell in a second innings spell to set up the Leeds win and he should be confident in New Zealand conditions.
Indeed, look beyond the bare bones of the numbers and the point is Sri Lanka have bowlers who can prosper if the pitches are helpful.
They also have a mentor who knows a bit about the seam game.
Chaminda Vaas toiled 16 years for the Sri Lankan cause, as a clever, if far from express, left-armer.
As well as possessing one of world cricket's more engaging names - Warnakulasuriya Patabendige Ushantha Joseph Chaminda Vaas - he took 355 test wickets at 29.5 from 111 matches and 400 in 322 ODIs. In both columns he is second only to the freakish Muralitharan.
A key point in this is Vaas had an impressive record in New Zealand. He took 36 test wickets in eight tests in New Zealand at 22 apiece. His 10 for 90 at Napier in 1995 set up a whopping 241-run win and is bettered only by his outstanding 14 for 191 in a 10-wicket win over the West Indies at Colombo in 2001.
He had six-wicket hauls at the Basin Reserve and in Dunedin too, suggesting his knowledge of how to bowl in New Zealand conditions is considerable.
"All five seamers on tour have a lot of ability," Vaas said. "It's very rare that we get five guys who can all bowl at 140km/h. The conditions in New Zealand are great for quicks and as a seamer you are overjoyed when you see tracks like you have here because you don't get that in Sri Lanka."
Of this quintet, Vaas said they all have minor points of difference, "but in key criteria they are the same; they can all do something with the ball and have good control. Dhammika is a little different because he hits the deck and then gets movement, while Suranga and Eranga move it more in the air".
Chameera is rated the fastest young bowler in Sri Lankan domestic cricket, although raw, and Vaas expects him to reach 150km/h in another year.
So it's exciting times for a country more used to seeing their seamers taking the shine off the ball for their gifted spinners.
Sri Lanka's Fast Five
• Suranga Lakmal, age 27, 21 tests, 43 wickets at 48
• Shaminda Eranga, 28, 15, 50 at 34
• Nuwan Pradeep, 28, 8, 14 at 72
• Dhammika Prasad, 31, 15, 33 at 48
• Dushmantha Chameera, 22, 0, -
