Adam Parore: Second-fiddle Aussies will be no pushover

Running an eye down the Australian names for this week's Chappell-Hadlee Series shouldn't have the New Zealand players breaking out in a sweat.

Given the choice between playing the Australian teams we faced a few seasons back, with names like Waugh (x2), Warne, McGrath, Gillespie, Bevan and Lehmann, and this lot - which includes Simon Katich, Brad Hodge, Cameron White, Michael Lewis and Brad Hogg - I know which I'd have chosen.

That's not to say Australia will be weak. Since losing the Ashes, they have regained their air of confidence by pounding the West Indies and the younger guys will be desperate to prove themselves.

Whenever Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting are about, they will be a threat to any bowling attack and paceman Brett Lee, who can be expensive, is in prime form.

Leaving Glenn McGrath behind is good news for New Zealand. I rate him highly. Not only does he get wickets but he puts the brakes on the scoring rate and creates pressure which others then feed off.

However, we have seen in recent times that Australia, collectively and individually, are fallible and I'm certain the days when they had that almost unbeatable aura - a little like the All Blacks in their best periods - are gone.

New Zealand's job is part mental, part physical.

The mental side revolves round the old story of their opponents only having two arms and two legs. Play the opponent in terms of what he does, rather than what you think he is capable of doing.

Physically, they've come off a disappointing series in South Africa. They will have worked hard since then to pick themselves up and get their game in order.

This is the start of a home campaign also involving tours by Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

It's important New Zealand win at Eden Park today, for both short and long-term reasons. History tells us they must win the opening game to have any chance of taking the series.

Last season, New Zealand should have won the opening ODI against the Aussies in Wellington. They blew it and went downhill in the remaining four matches as Australia grew in confidence and quality.

A win today will also help set the Black Caps up for what lies ahead before their own fans. Success helps put bums on seats. Also, doing well overseas is fine, but players like to be seen winning in front of their people.

As for New Zealand, the match will be won or lost by the hard core of seven players - captain Daniel Vettori, Chris Cairns, Nathan Astle, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris, Jacob Oram and Brendon McCullum.

With due respect to whichever other four players walk out today, those players must perform. At various times they have all done outstanding things for New Zealand. The trick is doing it collectively.

Lou Vincent will open the batting with Astle, but I believe it's time for McCullum to be promoted to open with Astle.

He's done it before, albeit without much success, in Australia at the start of his career almost four years ago. McCullum is a different, far better player now.

The selectors have two choices: they can leave him where he is, about No 7 or 8, and he'll pick up his breezy 30 off 30 balls; or they can put him back at the top where I believe he will make centuries and become a major contributor with the bat.

Finally, an Australian players' poll has rated Billy Bowden the world's worst umpire, at least of those on the elite international panel.

Personally I believe Billy is a long way from last of those on the circuit. Billy's problem is that he sets himself up, as all showmen are prone to do, and at times players find it hard to take him seriously.

That said, it's only the opinion of the Aussies, who had just come off an Ashes defeat - when guess who was one of the umpires? Grain of salt Billy, I would suggest.