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Daniel Vettori watched South Africa's test and one-day cricket series triumph in Pakistan with a sense of trepidation, as New Zealand prepare to play them.
Seeking their first-ever series win in South Africa, Vettori acknowledged New Zealand's task had not been enhanced by the Proteas' good form in what is traditionally one of cricket's most inhospitable locations.
"Any time you go to Pakistan it's difficult to compete, let alone win, we can only sit back and admire that," Vettori told Radio Sport.
"I'm most impressed with the way they played in the test series."
South Africa won the series 1-0 before the one-day side, ranked No 2 in the world behind Australia, fashioned a 3-2 series win by routing the Pakistani batting line-up in the decider in Lahore on Monday.
Vettori hoped New Zealand could achieve similar outcomes, with a two-test series starting in Johannesburg on November 8, but conceded it would not be easy.
While South Africa arrive home match hardened, the Black Caps have not played a test since losing to Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve last December.
Attempts to get practice in the longer version of the game have proved problematic, with the tour-opening four-day game wrapped up a day early last week due to a sub-standard wicket in Bloemfontein.
New Zealand crushed an invitation 11 by 216 runs but the match was of little benefit to the batsmen who - Vettori and Craig Cumming aside - failed to make a sizeable impression.
A fragile top order undermined New Zealand on their last visit to South Africa in March 2006, and a similar scenario threatens to unfold if the specialists cannot get to grips with seaming pitches.
Opener Cumming (67) was the only top order batsman to pass 50, while Vettori's 99 at No 8 in the first innings at Bloemfontein saved the tourists some potential embarrassment.
Incumbent opener Cumming is assured of playing the first test while partner Michael Papps, who scored two and 12, will require a confident-boosting knock against the South African A side when New Zealand's final pre-test hit out starts in Potchefstroom tomorrow night (NZT).
Vettori hoped the groundstaff would provide a flatter surface to get his batsmen in nick before they head to the seam-friendly Wanderers.
"The last wicket we played was a little bit of shambles."
New Zealand may yet have to tackle the four-day match without senior batsman Stephen Fleming after the former captain dislocated a thumb during fielding practice.
Fleming will be given until shortly before the toss to prove his fitness.
Should he be ruled out Lou Vincent, a late replacement for Peter Fulton, should come into calculations.
Vincent and Ross Taylor, who is yet to make his test debut, are vying for the No 5 spot vacated by Nathan Astle last summer.
Taylor failed to press his claims with innings of 12 and 0 in the tour opener.
Meanwhile, the A side contains five players with international experience including captain Boeta Dippenaar and World Cup squad member Charl Langeveldt.
"This team is going to come pretty hard at us, and try and demoralise us before the test match," Vettori said.
- NZPA
