It is a very different leadup to that of the 1992 team, who made the semifinals on home turf. That side were well beaten 3-0 by England immediately before the tournament.
It did not do them any harm when the cup began, but this squad appears comfortable with their game and strategies, and content in the knowledge they know how to take advantage of situations, and get out of any fixes they find themselves in.
"If we go in with a positive mind frame, and we know we can beat any side on our day, then that's a good thing," wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi said yesterday. "If we go out and perform as we should we've got a big chance.
"Once Saturday hits everyone will be up for it."
McCullum probably doesn't dwell on his first year in charge, 2013. It was 11 tests before he oversaw his first victory and hasn't looked back. But he remembered those days today.
"It wasn't so long ago I wasn't sure I could command a place in the team and that can be quite challenging for a captain," he said.
"It's nice to have come through it. It got to a point where I kind of let go about what may go wrong with my game and focus on the impact I could make and what might work out. The performances have gone along from there."
His award as Halberg Sportsman of the Year on Wednesday night is a fitting accolade and shows how far McCullum has come since the dark days.
New Zealand had an optional practice yesterday, attended by more than half the squad of 15. They will have a light workout today and coach Mike Hesson and McCullum will have a fully fight group to choose their XI from.
What about Sri Lanka?
How's this for a contrast: they lost that series to New Zealand, having been beaten 2-0 in the preceding test series; and were beaten in both practice games by South Africa and Zimbabwe, the first narrowly the second by a mile.
Add in that concerns remain around the fitness of star bowler Lasith Malinga, who
hasn't played a full ODI since last August, has had surgery on an ankle and will effectively be testing it out in the early days of the cup.
"I'm pretty sure everyone's faced him and knows what he's got," Ronchi said of the man with the one-of-a-kind action.
"We know what he's capable of doing so you just have to weather that and make sure we're in the right space to do the right thing against him."
Sri Lanka had a lowkey day today, without practice, doubtless figuring a day not touching bat or ball won't do any harm to players who have been in New Zealand since before Christmas. Hankering for home? It is certainly the wrong time for that mentality to seep in.
