New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori fears his inexperienced squad could be made to bear the brunt of Australia's frustrations following their recent series loss to India.
With a number of familiar faces unavailable for the two-match 3 Mobile Test Series beginning in Brisbane next Thursday, the Kiwis have no choice but to field a greenhorn line-up against Ricky Ponting's men.
But Vettori knows his side can expect no mercy for the duration of the tour following Australia's recent struggles on the sub-continent.
"Their performances in their own country over the last few years have been almost impeccable so it's going to be difficult," Vettori said.
"And I'm sure they'll be hurting as a side after the Test series (against India) so they'll come back pretty strong."
"It's almost a worse position to be in than if they'd won the series."
Vettori says the upcoming Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide represent mammoth challenges for the Black Caps who arrived in Australia on Monday without injured all-rounder Jacob Oram (back).
"Jacob in my opinion is our best playing and as soon as you take him out of the side, particularly a guy who's scored a Test-match hundred at the Gabba and can fill that third or fourth seamer role is a huge loss for us," he said.
"It's a difficult (tour) because of where we are on the Test (rankings) table, we're seventh in the world so that make it a little bit tough and we're quite inexperienced, but in saying that I still think this is a nucleus of a good side," he said.
"So hopefully we can come here and perform but I think you'll see the best of this side as it starts to mature, particularly our young batsman most of who have played under 10 Tests."
But while he knows the task is ahead of him, the veteran off-spinner warns he has not conceded defeat just yet.
"This is our biggest series back home, this is the series that our public takes the most notice of and if we don't compete here or even push on to look like trying to take Australia into the fifth day or trying to win games, then our public will be pretty severe on us," Vettori said.
"It's no excuse that the team's inexperienced, we still want to come over here and try and win."
The Kiwis will complete preparations for the Brisbane Test with a four-day match against NSW at the SCG starting this Thursday.