Blackcaps v Bangladesh: Rookies Will Young, Devon Conway backed to succeed in place of Williamson and Taylor

No Kane Williamson, no Ross Taylor, no problem - that's the message from Blackcaps coach Gary Stead before the first one-day international against Bangladesh in Dunedin on Saturday.

With Williamson (elbow) and Taylor (hamstring) out of action, the onus will fall on potential debutants Devon Conway and Will Young to step into the shoes of the two Blackcaps greats.

While most sides would fret at the thought of losing a combined 383 ODI caps, Stead is sure his less experienced players will fill the void.

"It's tough when you look at Kane and Ross, and the experience that those guys have had over a long, long period of time," Stead says. "But the opportunity for Devon and Will to come into those positions as well is really exciting for them.

"They're both fine players, [as] we've seen in the past. [I'm] really looking forward to the opportunity that those guys get and I know that they'll be looking forward to it as well."

In particular, Conway's one-day debut comes as reassurance for the Blackcaps, after impressing so far in his time with the New Zealand T20 side, scoring 366 runs, with a best of 99 not out against Australia and an average of more than 52 so far this summer.

Meanwhile, Young's arrival is another long-awaited appearance, after shining in a warm-up series against Australia before the 2019 Cricket World Cup, making scores of 60, 130 and 111. The elegant right-hander played his first test earlier this summer and both matches in New Zealand's 2-0 series win over West Indies.

The sheer volume of domestic runs that both have scored over in recent seasons helps the Blackcaps' coaching group sleep easier, despite the absence of a world-class pair like Williamson and Taylor.

"They're two positions in the order that we have a lot of faith in and I think strength in New Zealand cricket as well,” says Stead.

"Devon and Will have waited their turn, or their chance to get this turn. They'll be up for it and I know they'll put their best foot forward."

Blackcaps squad: Tom Latham (c), Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Will Young.

Join Newshub for live updates of the Blackcaps first ODI against Bangladesh on Saturday