The Blackcaps may have just finished one World Cup campaign, but another is already on the horizon.
And for opener Finn Allen, the race to prove he's the man to lead from the front with bat in hand will begin at Napier's McLean Park on Wednesday.
In June 2024, the Twenty20 World Cup will be co-hosted by the West Indies and USA, as the tournament's third edition since 2021.
For a largely settled Blackcaps side in the shortest format, the preparation for another shot at a global title begins with three Twenty20 Internationals against Bangladesh.
New Zealand will open the series in Napier, before finishing with games two and three at Mt Maunganui's Bay Oval to see out 2023.
For Allen, the three-match series is the perfect launching pad into 2024, after the destructive 24-year-old missed the chance to be part of New Zealand's 50-over World Cup squad.
While there's no question over Allen's raw ability, consistency has always been his greatest hindrance to becoming a true force in the world game.
Despite his undeniable ability, Allen averages just over 23 with the bat from 32 Twenty20 Internationals, albeit with a huge strike rate of more than 159 runs per 100 balls faced.
On his day, Allen is among the most explosive batters in the world.
At the 2022 edition of the Twenty20 World Cup, Allen hit 42 runs from just 16 balls as the Blackcaps toppled hosts Australia by a whopping 89 runs, in a blow that the then-world champions never recovered from, exiting the tournament without making the semi-finals.
Since then, though, Allen has lost his place at the top of the Blackcaps order in One Day Internationals, unable to have similar success in the 50-over format.
But with a six-month run towards the next T20 World Cup, Allen has the chance to build on his immense promise, and become a fixture at the top of the order for his country.
"There's about 15-16 games [left] in the build-up to that World Cup," Allen told Newshub. "We've got a bit of time to, I suppose for me personally, knuckle down on all the nuts and bolts going into that - if selected.
"It's a great opportunity to start that prep.
"For me, it's about working towards pinnacle events over periods of time. Over the next six months, this is by far the biggest tournament to play in.
"It's something [I have] in mind, and working towards that main goal."
The Blackcaps have already beaten Bangladesh in the three-match ODI series held last week, albeit dropping a first white ball international to the Tigers on home soil, when they lost by nine wickets at Napier's McLean Park.
Allen, though, wasn't part of that side, even as the Blackcaps rested most of their first-string players due to the heavy workload.
But that doesn't mean he's a stranger to what the Tigers will bring.
Of his 32 T20 Internationals, a quarter have come against Bangladesh, playing against them more than any other nation.
His record in those eight games reads 204 runs at an average of 25.50, better than his career average, with one half-century.
What's more, despite Wednesday's series opener taking place at McLean Park, the scene of Bangladesh's historic win, Allen holds no scars from last week's events.
"They're a quality bowling lineup," he continued. "Having played against them a few times over the last couple of years, I kind of have an idea what they try and do plan-wise.
"[There's] different conditions. I'm sure they'll adapt to what we get tomorrow.
"It should be good."
Aside from Bangladesh, this home summer will also see the Blackcaps play T20 series against Pakistan (five games) and Australia (three games) in the shortest format.
