It may sound like a cop out, but New Zealand cannot expect to compete with Australia with anything other than a fully fit squad.
With a swag of players either completely incapacitated or in the cases of Brendon McCullum, Dan Vettori and Ross Taylor playing with niggling injuries, New Zealand has done well to compete as well as it has.
The drafting of the likes of Shanan Stewart and Michael Mason - two players whom three months ago were considered well off the pace of international cricket, tells us that the selectors are working with scraps.
It must be said that if the selectors are looking to pick the most in-form player in New Zealand at the moment then that player is Kane Williamson.
The Northern Districts youngster has spent the last couple of months carving up provincial attacks and is widely regarded as the best young player New Zealand has produced for a decade or two.
I would probably be the last person to say this, but why not give the guy a go in the last two ODI's?
My own career kicked off with a less-than-profitable few innings against the might of the West Indies in 1985. Without doubt, I was selected too soon.
But Williamson has had many benefits that I never had. The whole set-up is different for the young player these days, with professional training from an early age.
Williamson has played first-class cricket since December 2007, and has had various academy-type sessions with the best of coaches.
And did I mention he is in the form of his life?
In short, Williamson is ready to play international cricket.
And I see no issues with Williamson debuting against the Aussies. This Australian team is without that intimidating factor of past models. Take Mitchell Johnson out of their bowling attack, and it is workmanlike rather than menacing.
Williamson can handle it. It's inevitable that he will play for New Zealand so get him in now.
And a quick comment on the aggression shown between the two teams - well, isn't it great.
As spectators we should expect nothing less than real passion when our two countries meet.
Good to see that the passion remains on red-hot alert - and within the spirit of the game.