When it comes to Nick Blundell and Henry Collier you can't take one without the other, and that goes for New Zealand cricket as well.
The former Collegiate school mates and current Massey University flatmates in Palmerston North have both got the nod for the 16-man New Zealand Under 19 squad to play their Australian counterparts in three one-dayers and a three-day match at Lincoln's Bert Sutcliffe Oval, starting at the end of the month.
For Blundell, his position as a potential frontrunner for the pace attack was clear when he first joined the New Zealand training group late last year.
The focus then turned to getting Collier to join him the pair continuing their five-year-old vow to bring each other to the top level.
Some good runs at the top of the order for Central Districts U19 and Collier earned his place "right in it now" as the journey to the 2014 U19 Cricket World Cup looms on the horizon.
Both were together in their Palmerston North flat when the Wanganui Chronicle rang their cellphones.
"We've been to school for five years together," Blundell says of the partnership.
"Even at school we'd go down to the academy [based at Collegiate] and drill.
"A lot of things could have gone wrong but it's good that we've got up there. There's a pretty long road for us. Spots in the team can be on the line."
Collier said no one could driven the pair more than themselves.
"It just made us both want to work harder. If someone doesn't make the team, the other wants to work harder [when training together], it pushes us."
The pair chose Massey to remain near Wanganui cricket guru Dilan Raj, who remains responsible for their personal training outside of the New Zealand camp.
"At the academy, for five years me and Nick would be the most frequent that go, so we became friends with Dilan," said Collier.
"He's definitely the person who made me into a cricketer.
"When I went to him I couldn't bat and I was bowling pace - now I'm a batsman that bowls spin."
For the second half of the summer both will play for the Old Boys club in Manawatu, with Blundell making a comeback from injury this weekend.
From there, it's back to their home away from home in Lincoln.
"We're probably a bit sick of it after a while, but New Zealand Cricket's got a good set up down there," said Blundell.
"For this series, the pitches down in Lincoln usually prefer spin, but I'll be doing my best for the team and put my selection forward."
Collier said they will have about four days in Lincoln to prepare for the series and analyse their Australian opponents.
"I've only been told one thing in my role ... to bat in the top three. I'd be guessing if I said anything else."
After the Australian series, there will be another camp before the next NZ U19 team is selected to cross the Tasman to play a quadrangular series against the Aussies, England and either India or Bangladesh.
The final World Cup team will be chosen in August, before the players return to represent their provinces in the national championship. The world cup begins in January 2014.