Gary Stead looks at all-round and keeping options before CWC 2019

After ending their 2018 on high with a record winning streak of four Test series, the Blackcaps will start 2019 with a one-day international series against Sri Lanka from Thursday, 3 January, in Mount Maunganui.

Kane Williamson and his men are also set to play ODI series against India and Bangladesh at home ahead of the marquee 50-over tournament and the coach wants to use these "trial period" matches to find out the right combination for the World Cup.

"It's really now [about] looking ahead to the World Cup, being clear on the game plans we want to use and making sure the roles we want to get people in — that we're playing to those roles as well," Stead was quoted as saying by the New Zealand Herald.

"They're about tweaking, looking at the style of play and how we want to play and looking at the options who fit those roles as well. It's definitely a trial period still."

With Colin de Grandhomme rested, Corey Anderson out of action with injury and illness, and Mitchell Santner making his return from injury, New Zealand have recalled all-rounders Jimmy Neesham and Doug Bracewell after a year for the ODI series against Sri Lanka and also included wicket-keeper batsman Tim Seifert, who is yet to make his ODI debut.

The position of all-rounder was still open, Stead suggested. "We're still looking at some places within our team. We want to see more of the all-rounders, we're looking at Tim Seifert as a back-up keeping option as well."

Along with finding the right team combination, Stead listed a few more things he wanted to "get his head around": "The biggest thing for me is looking at the style of play, game plan, and looking ahead to the World Cup, where we know it's likely to be 300-plus scores," he said. "I want to make sure we get our heads around that as well."