The Kangaroos, in contrast, can ease into the campaign - and try new combinations - against the Scots, while the English get a fortnight between matches with their major rivals.
And the Kiwis have yet to prove they can cope without Kieran Foran and Simon Mannering, as they have won only one significant test without the pair since 2014. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and the underrated Dean Whare are also significant losses but injuries are part of the sport and the Kiwis just have to cope.
New Zealand still has the best pack, on paper anyway, and will be hard to stop if they get going. However, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves remains unproven at this level, after an underwhelming display against Australia in Perth, while Issac Luke needs to recapture his Rabbitohs form, rather than the mixed fare of this season.
If the forwards can achieve dominance, or even parity, then Shaun Johnson is the wildcard. Whether he likes it or not, Johnson is fundamental to New Zealand success. He was brilliant in the 2014 Four Nations tournament, with a series of displays that gained him the Golden Boot, and needs to recapture that level.
The 26-year-old can't afford to drift out of matches, though David Kidwell and his coaching team must also find ways to protect him from a large defensive workload like the one he recently endured in Perth.
Johnson has often been the difference in major matches - think of his last-minute try in the 2013 World Cup semifinal, or the burst of pace past Greg Inglis in Wellington in 2014 - and needs to be on song again.
"We'll be trying to lay a good platform for guys like Shaun to do their thing," said Kiwis forward Jason Taumalolo. "If we can do that, I'm sure Shaun will enjoy all the time and space to run around. He is a good ball runner as much as a playmaker, so we need to give him the space he needs."
The Kiwis will also need to overcome an abject recent record in the Northern Hemisphere, where they have beaten England only twice in the past decade. Tours in 2007, 2009 and 2011 were all disappointing campaigns, and their last notable success in the UK came with the Tri Nations victory in 2005.
England also have the twin factors of new coach Wayne Bennett and restored leader Sam Burgess, after his rugby experiment.
"We all know how good Sam is and what he brings to the team," said Kiwis coach Kidwell. "He is a major weapon for them and it's something we have to deal with."
The Kiwis' clash with England kicks off at 2.30am Sunday (NZT).