If groundsmen are directed to lock up their lawn mowers and put the roller on the blocks, then the burden weighs heavily on New Zealand opening batsmen Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill.
They started admirably, putting on 124 for the first wicket in Napier against Zimbabwe on Thursday, but the prospect of facing Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel in their pomp will be a step up.
Former New Zealand opening batsman Bruce Edgar dealt with a few green-top pitches during a 39-test career where he made three centuries against the likes of pace bowlers Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson.
A key knock was a first innings 84 which included a period retired hurt on a seaming track in New Zealand's first test win in England in 1983.
Edgar says the key to opening on a juicy track was making the bowler work towards him: "Leaving [the ball] is vital; you can't hang the bat out like a curtain rail. You've got to try to play in a tight V between mid-off and mid-on. Going wider for early cover drives gives the bowling side a better chance to get nicks with the extra movement. Sometimes it's hard to be disciplined, especially in the T20 era, but you have to contain yourself.
"Good footwork getting to the pitch of the ball is important, too. There is less margin for error with head, bat and ball in alignment. When you commit to play, you should look to hit the ball rather than keeping the bat behind the pad, because you're exposed to the lbw if it's jagging around. Mix that with the need for soft hands, especially in defence, rather than going hard at the ball.
"The Australians have shown terrific judgment of line and length against India. Michael Clarke has been immaculate - waiting for the Indian bowlers to over-pitch outside off stump or drift on to his pads where he works the ball away with ease."
Bryan Young opened for New Zealand in 35 tests through much of the 1990s. Both his centuries came in test victories, including the country's then second highest score of 267 not out. It came in the first innings against Sri Lanka in Dunedin in 1997 on what was expected to be a seaming track. His other ton (120) helped post New Zealand's highest successful fourth innings chase of 324 for five in 1994 against a Pakistan attack which included Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.
"Regardless of whether the pitch is dry without grass or fresh and tasty for a bowler, your preparation shouldn't vary too much because the new ball always moves," says Young.
"You've got to play late, straight and not be sucked into pushing at the ball. It's about steeling yourself against the bowling advantage and avoiding being defeatist by thinking your dismissal is only a matter of time.
"There must be few more satisfying feelings in cricket than being an opening batsman conquering bowlers on a green, seaming wicket. But you've got to convince yourself it is a good idea for the captain to lose the toss and be sent in. It can be a sadistic way of looking at things.
"I remember once when it had been raining torrentially in Napier. I woke up relaxed, thinking there'd be no play but we got to McLean Park and found an army of volunteers had been up since 5am drying the wicket blocks and run-ups. They were even using hairdryers. You couldn't tell the difference between the outfield and the pitch, but we played. I learned a lesson there.
"In contrast, I remember my second test, the first match against Pakistan in 1994 at Eden Park on a greenish surface. I got to 29 by lunch without playing a false stroke against Wasim and Waqar. I felt like I'd batted for a day. I got out straight after lunch but I still reckon it was one of my best knocks."
