Depleted Kiwis start new era against South Africa

Having lost Ross Taylor through retirement and regular skipper Kane Williamson through injury, New Zealand will have their work cut out for them when they meet South Africa in the opening match of the two-Test series in Christchurch, starting on Thursday.

For the first time since 2008, New Zealand are without both Taylor and Williamson and with pace bowler Trent Boult away on paternity leave, the hosts face an uphill battle against the touring side under Dean Elgar.

South Africa have never lost a Test series against New Zealand, who were held to a 1-1 draw by a modest Bangladesh squad last month.

Tom Latham's side needs to make the most of another home series before they tour England and Pakistan, but South Africa are in strong form having beaten India 2-1 in their previous series at home.

New Zealand, the World Test Champions, have only managed to win four Tests against South Africa in 45 meetings since 1932, but Latham refused to be bogged down by their poor record.

"For us that's not necessarily the focus," the stand-in skipper said ahead of the first Test, which will be broadcast live in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports.

"It's the process of actually how we get there and if we do play well then hopefully all that stuff takes care of itself," he said.

"South Africa are coming in off the back of a great series win against India not long ago so they'll certainly be a great side."

Johannesburg-born Devon Conway will bat at No.3 in his first match against the country of his birth.

Henry Nicholls will move up to No.4 with Daryl Mitchell, who will replace Taylor at first slip, at five.

Matt Henry will replace Boult in New Zealand's four-pronged pace attack, with the Kiwis to again go into the match without a frontline spinner.

South Africa know the importance of beating New Zealand, currently the second-ranked Test team, but Elgar warned against complacency.

"They've had success even with the guys not around, they've had success with the current players that they have, and we know they're an extremely dangerous side in their conditions," Elgar told reporters on Wednesday.

With Keegan Petersen ruled out of the tour having contracted COVID-19, the Proteas will call in a debutant to bat at No.3, with Sarel Erwee the favourite to play his first Test.

The rest of South Africa's line-up is expected to be unchanged from their series-clinching win against India last month.

New Zealand XI (probable): Tom Latham (c), Will Young, Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Matt Henry

South Africa XI (probable): Dean Elgar (c), Aiden Markram, Sarel Erwee/Zubayr Hamza, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Duanne Olivier, Lungi Ngidi

The New Zealand v South Africa Test series will be broadcast live in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports