Matthew Hoggard has been left out of the England line-up for the first Test against New Zealand starting today while Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori has declared himself fit.

England will rely on the team that beat the Black Caps in the third Test in New Zealand in March to capture a come-from-behind 2-1 series triumph.

''It is going to be the same team that won our last Test in Napier,'' captain Michael Vaughan said yesterday. ''Hopefully it will be a similar performance and a similar result.''

Yorkshire swing bowler Hoggard was dropped during the series in New Zealand and, despite some impressive bowling performances this season, England has decided to rely on a pace attack of Ryan Sidebottom, Stuart Broad and James Anderson with Monty Panesar as the spinner.

Vettori was doubtful for the game after damaging his spinning finger a week ago. He needed two stitches in a wound but decided he's fit enough to play after spending two days bowling in the nets.

''I'm not too concerned about it,'' Vettori said. ''But I would like to have played in the last game and had a bit of time in the middle.''

England's loss in the first Test in Hamilton was a warning as to what can happen if the home team takes things easy.

England rallied to win the next two Tests and is expected to overwhelm the inexperienced tourists.

''If we're going to beat South Africa, we're going to have to move up a level,'' England's South African-born batsman Kevin Pietersen said. ''That's going to be our toughest series for a long time.

''But we're not even talking about South Africa yet. We want to beat New Zealand well and that's the main priority. When we're finished with that, it's time for South Africa.''

The temptation to look past this series is exacerbated by the fact that next year features the attempt to regain the Ashes from Australia.

''I play cricket like South Africa play their cricket,'' Pietersen said. ''Tough, in your face, will do anything to win, will really knuckle down. It's going to be a tough series and the one we're looking at targeting to see where we're at because there's a pretty important summer next summer.''

For now, England has to make sure they afford their immediate opponent sufficient respect.

That shouldn't be a problem, with several players having something to prove.

Pietersen's batting average has dipped below 50 despite his crucial 129 in March's third Test in Napier, while Andrew Strauss is seeking to re-establish himself as an opener. Paul Collingwood has recovered enough from a shoulder problem that has required three cortisone injections.

The series may seem like a preamble to bigger things for England, but New Zealand's players are keen to get going.

Allrounder Jacob Oram spent the past few weeks playing in the Indian Premier League, but has cut short his stint in the lucrative Twenty20 tournament to play for his country.

''This is the tour you want to be on,'' Oram said. ''The tradition, the heritage, everything about it.''

Openers Aaron Redmond and Jamie How scored a total 284 between them in the drawn warm-up against the England Lions, who had Hoggard in attack.

More of the same at Lord's would suit New Zealand just fine.