Trans-Tasman series NZ's pinnacle

They played a World Cup final a little less than eight months ago, but as far as New Zealand are concerned, a three-Test series against Australia is the pinnacle of cricket.

The Black Caps were soundly beaten by their hosts when they last fought out a Test at the Gabba four years ago, and while this squad contains six members who appeared in that defeat, the evolution of the side has been considerable in the intervening years.

Under the joint leadership of coach Mike Hesson and captain Brendon McCullum, the Kiwis have developed a quiet self-belief on the back of high-quality players and strong results both home and away.

Now it’s a return to Australia, their fiercest sporting rivals, for the true yardstick of just how far this side has come.

"This is the highlight of my career, to be honest ... (and) this is definitely going to show us where we’re at," said Trent Boult, who has played just one Test against Australia for one win, on his debut in Hobart in the second Test of that 2011 series.

"We've been travelling extremely well over the last year or so. We’ve got a good blueprint of how we want to play the game, and I couldn’t think of a better opposition to see where we’re at."

Australia looking to open World Cup wounds

Opener Martin Guptill made just 44 runs in four innings on his one and only Test trip to Australia, but says both he and the team have come along dramatically since that drawn 2011 series.

Over the past year, Guptill has remodelled his technique under the watchful eye of New Zealand legend Martin Crowe, and the glut of runs that followed earned him a recall to the Test side in England in May after a two-year hiatus.

"Opening the batting is pretty tough, but hopefully the changes that I’ve made can get me through that first initial period and then hopefully (I can) bat a long time and score a lot of runs," he said.

"Playing Australia at home is one of the biggest tests you can have. They’re a world-class side with world-class players ... (but) there’s been a lot of changes (to the 2011 team); we’ve got a completely different side now to what we did then and I think everyone’s excited about the prospect of coming back here and hopefully getting the win that we wanted last time.

"(The Gabba) is a wicket that’s completely different to what we’re used to back home. It’s going to be tough out there, but hopefully Tommy (Latham, fellow opener) and I can get through that new ball and get a big partnership going for us in that first innings."

The form of Boult and opening partner Tim Southee has also been a major reason behind New Zealand’s rise up the Test rankings.

Exclusive: Boult on his partnership with Southee

Since the beginning of 2014, the pair has combined for 94 Test wickets (Boult 51, Southee 43) in 12 Tests.

"Obviously Tim and Trent have had a good couple of years, and they bowl very well together," Guptill added. "They play in the same domestic team back home and they built that partnership starting there, and then with New Zealand.

"So hopefully those boys are on song because when they are, they’re pretty tough to face."

The 29-year-old agreed with Boult’s summation that this was the biggest cricket contest a New Zealander could play in.

"I think it is, yeah. The New Zealand-Australia rivalry is big in any sport, and coming across here and playing a Test series, it doesn’t get much better,” he said.

"Everyone’s really excited, the public back home is getting into it and we’re looking forward to getting into it."