Kane locked in for return as Kiwis plot final World Test Championship push

New Zealand coach Gary Stead knows everything will have to go right for his side if they are to continue their excellent recent run of form and earn a place at next year's ICC World Test Championship Final.

The Black Caps stayed in contention for a second appearance in the one-off Test decider with an impressive 3-0 series whitewash over India on the sub-continent last month and now have to do similar to England at home over the next three Tests if they want to emulate their success in the inaugural edition of the event.

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The Kiwis' hopes of beating England will be boosted by the return of star batter Kane Williamson, with Stead confirming on Monday that the No.2 ranked Test batter in the world will play in the opening Test that commence in Christchurch on Thursday.

"Obvious Kane will come back into the side," Stead said. "He's a superb player as we know and that creates some selection headaches for (skipper) Tom (Latham) and I to get our heads around in the next day or so.

"Kane is one of the best in the world, so he will be playing somewhere in that line-up. It's just how we manage to shape the rest of the team around that."

It's a welcome selection headache for Stead, who confirmed that his side will likely include four seamers in their XI for that first Test at Hagley Oval, with Nathan Smith and Jacob Duffy expected to battle it out for one spot alongside Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Will O'Rourke.

New Zealand will have to win all three Tests against England to book their place in the World Test Championship decider and Stead knows too well that task will be difficult and not to take anything for granted in Test cricket.

“What happened over there was magic, the team played superbly well, and probably outplayed India in most facets of the game. We’re excited about what we did there and also looking ahead to what is a huge challenge for us against a quality England side," Stead said.

“I’m sure it's going to be a cracker of a Test series. We're going to see some fireworks I would suggest."