The Cricket Australia XI dominated the opening day of the two-day match against New Zealand in Canberra yesterday, moving to 325 for four at stumps on a flat wicket.
Top-order test hopefuls Joe Burns (102 retired), Usman Khawaja (111 not out), Cameron Bancroft (42) and Adam Voges (33 retired) helpedbuild a formidable total after losing the pink-ball one-dayer by 102 runs the previous evening.
The hosts reserved the most punishment for off-spinner Mark Craig, who took the wicket of Shaun Marsh but conceded 105 runs from 22 overs. In contrast, Trent Boult was parsimonious, taking 0-30 from 14, including eight maidens.
Returning captain Brendon McCullum lost the toss.
While not New Zealand's most convincing day with the ball, former Australian batsman Doug Walters expects them to achieve a second series win across the Tasman in the upcoming tests, 30 years on from their previous triumph.
Walters said Boult and opening bowling partner Tim Southee would back themselves to spark wins on bouncy Gabba and Perth pitches. He also believed a swinging pink ball in Adelaide could play into New Zealand hands.
"This is easily their best chance," Walters told AAP.
"It'd be good for cricket. We haven't got the greatest side and they have performances on the board that say they can beat us."
Meanwhile, the Nine Network are adamant the inaugural day-night test will feature the decision review system, despite concerns raised by the firm responsible for ball-tracking technology five weeks out.
Nine have invested heavily in the primetime event, conducting a range of tests in partnership with Cricket Australia over the past 18 months.
That includes working closely with Animation Research, the New Zealand company that helped deliver the DRS in Australian tests since its inception.
Ian Taylor, the Animation Research boss, recently questioned whether his organisation had enough time to ensure its technology could reliably track an old pink ball.
