The Blackcaps have received a welcome boost to their World Cup prospects with news Tim Southee is on track to play, after undergoing surgery for his fractured right thumb.
Southee will fly to India on Saturday with his aim to be available for New Zealand's opening match of the tournament against England next Thursday.
The veteran of 157 ODIs' availability will depend on how quickly the wound from his surgery - which involved five pins being inserted in his thumb - heals, which is why he's being afforded a couple of extra days at home before travelling to the subcontinent.
Coach Gary Stead says Southee is "very hopeful" he'll be fit for selection against the English in Ahmedabad.
As a contingency, pace-bowler Kyle Jamieson will also join the World Cup squad in India this week to train.
Jamieson will not officially be part of the World Cup squad and therefore not available to play in any of the warm-up matches scheduled for Friday against Pakistan and Monday against South Africa.
The Blackcaps were left sweating when the veteran seamer was forced to leave the field during last week's fourth ODI against England, after a misfield in the slips left him with a dislocated and fractured bone in his right hand.
Aside from the value he adds with the ball in hand, Southee's experience at cricket's showpiece tournament is priceless to the Blackcaps. The 34-year-old will represent New Zealand at a World Cup for a fourth time in India, assuming recovery goes to plan.
The second group of Blackcaps players and support staff depart to India from Christchurch on Wednesday morning.
They'll be joined by five players from the squad which closed out a 2-0 ODI series win over Bangladesh on Tuesday.
