Smith wants swinging balls and straight bats

Scarred by their previous visit to Eden Park that yielded their only defeat of an ultimately triumphant World Cup campaign, Australia is banking on pronounced swing with the ball and considerably less from their top-order batters to turn the tables on their hosts.

But having played and won an ODI at the rugby-sized ground as recently as last Sunday, the Black Caps feel the venue might favour their spinners more so than their highly rated seamers and have summoned an additional tweaker into their squad for tomorrow’s Qantas Tour of New Zealand series opener.

In attempting to wrest back the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy they relinquished when they were rolled by NZ quicks Trent Boult and Tim Southee in a low-scoring but hugely entertaining World Cup game a year ago, the Australians have well learned a lesson and will field a seam-based attack tomorrow.

All you need to know: Qantas Tour of New Zealand

Josh Hazlewood returns from a break in the latter stage of the home summer to lead a line-up that also includes John Hastings and Kane Richardson as well as allrounders Mitchell Marsh and James Faulkner.

WATCH: Smith reveals Australia's XI for first ODI

The role of sole spinner will fall to another allrounder, Glenn Maxwell, even though the Eden Park pitch for tomorrow’s day-night match will be the same as the one that hosted Sunday's ODI between the Black Caps and Pakistan.

And which showed signs of exaggerated turn for Pakistan leg spinner Azhar Ali, prompting the NZ selectors to rush their own leggie Ish Sodhi into the squad for today's pre-game training session in Auckland.

"The wicket the other day was a little bit slow, and we're playing on the same pitch (tomorrow) and there is potential we’d look to include him (Sodhi) if we think the wicket is going to hold up," NZ captain Brendon McCullum said today ahead of his farewell series as an international player.

"We wanted that option, the ability to choose the extra spinner if need be.

"We’ll look at the wicket when we arrive then try and work out the best team for the conditions."

Quick single: Khawaja left out for Marsh

Australia, on the other hand, considered including leg spinner Adam Zampa for his international debut but, when thinking back to the World Cup group game in which Black Caps' pair Boult (5-27) and Southee (2-67) dismissed them for 151 in 32.2 overs, opted for swing and seam.

"He (Zampa) was certainly considered (but) we’ve traditionally done quite well using Maxwell as our spinner," Australia skipper Steve Smith said today.

"We think that the wicket might swing around a bit, we saw that in the World Cup game we played here, the ball swung around for a good 30-odd overs or whatever we lasted with the bat, and whatever New Zealand lasted with the bat chasing.

"So, we suspect it will swing around a little bit and we’re going to make use of that.

"No surprises they (NZ) have brought in a leg spinner - he can play and he’s got some good skills, so if he gets an opportunity hopefully we can go after him a little bit."

The Australians also know the "go after him" strategy becomes even more tempting at the sight of short straight and square boundaries as the boutique Eden Park.

But Smith has called for his batters to show greater restraint than was the case in the World Cup a year ago, when the Australians spent the lead-up to the game rehearsing their straight hitting skills only to be bowled out for their lowest score of the tournament.

With that in mind, the skipper has declared it will be defence as much as defiance that could decide the match that will be followed by day-night fixtures in Wellington (Saturday) and Hamilton (Monday) before the two-Test series gets underway in the capital.

"It's summing up the conditions as quickly as possible and making sure you adapt to the conditions," Smith said when asked if recent experience had taught his team to temper their aggression when the ball is new and swinging.

"They are a little bit different in New Zealand, the ball tends to swing around for a lot longer, you do have to give yourself extra time to get in.

"You can't go out there and go hard from ball one, you have to give yourself a chance. 

"That's what I've been talking to the batters about the last couple of days.

“The start of your innings here in New Zealand you really have to back your defence. 

“I think you can make up for a lot of runs at the back end (of an innings), particularly with the short boundaries but while the ball's swinging around you have to back your defence early and give yourselves a chance to get in.

WATCH: Kane Richardson discusses the local conditions

“When you do that, things will get a lot easier. 

“Guys have been working hard on their defence and hopefully it works for them tomorrow.”

McCullum, who will retire at the completion of the Test series at his adopted home town of Christchurch, admitted to feeling “a bit stiff and sore” following his return to the international arena against Pakistan on Sunday after a stint on the sidelines with a back injury.

He is confident of playing a full role in the ODI and Test campaigns over the coming weeks but stressed the matches against the Black Caps closest neighbours and fiercest rivals were far more important than the circumstances of his own international farewell.

WATCH: McCullum explains decision to retire

“I’m going to enjoy these next few weeks and hopefully make some contributions and then know that I can hand the team over to a bunch of guys who will take it even further forward than what we’ve been able to achieve over the last little while,” McCullum said today.

“(But) just be focused on playing the ball, that’s our simple message.

“Play what’s in front of you, and that’s not just for every game but every single ball.

“The other stuff (his farewell) is fairytale stuff but realistically it doesn’t count for much once the game gets underway.

“And that’s the message that has permeated through the group over the last couple of days and I’m sure will remain for the next few weeks as well.”