JOHANNESBURG - Michael Papps is gearing himself up for another torrid battle against the South African pace attack, this time on a Wanderers' pitch that's expected to provide plenty of help for the bowlers.
The Canterbury opening batsman has played four of his five tests against South Africa in astop-start international career, the most recent this week at Newlands - where he performed moderately, scoring 22 and 20.
But Papps knows all too well that the Wanderers pitch for tonight's third and final test will contain far more moisture than the one at Cape Town, and that opening the batting will consequently become a far more complicated challenge.
"They're on top of their game," said Papps, who seems likely to again partner Peter Fulton at the top of the New Zealand batting order.
"They're bowling well, but it's up to us to stand up to that challenge and set a platform for the strokemakers."
Papps, who has struggled at times against genuine pace, being hit in the head by speedsters such as Ian Butler, Steve Harmison and Brett Lee, was recalled to the test squad after a 14-month hiatus during which he made some alterations to his game.
The 24-year-old right-hander no longer employs the forward press as his pre-delivery movement, instead taking the much safer option of moving slightly back and across.
"I've had some injury worries but I've gone away and worked hard on my game and hopefully I'm back as a better player," he said.
New Zealand will almost certainly be without Hamish Marshall (hip injury) for tonight's match, and are likely to make just one change to their line-up, omitting off-spinner Jeetan Patel for one of the seamers, most probably Kyle Mills.
