WORCESTERSHIRE will be aiming to give New Zealand a run for their money in the tourists’ final warm-up match before the first Test against England at Lord’s next week.

All-rounder Ed Barnard and Ross Whiteley will come into the equation to face the Black Caps in the four-day match at New Road, starting at 11am today.

But the experienced Gareth Andrew still remains on the sidelines having suffered a back injury similar to the one which forced him to miss most of last season.

The Black Caps, who finished runners-up in the ICC World Cup, are fresh from a 66-run win against Somerset in which Ben Wheeler and Mark Craig each bagged five wickets in an innings.

Worcestershire chief executive David Leatherdale expects New Zealand to provide stern opposition, despite missing Brendon McCullum and Tim Southee who are involved in the Indian Premier League.

New Zealand are now rated above England in the latest ICC Test rankings, climbing to third, with Alastair Cook’s side dropping to fifth.

“We know McCullum and Southee are playing in the Indian Premier League and are not going to be here,” said Leatherdale.

“We think it will be a similar New Zealand squad to the one they put out against Somerset but Matt Henry is over from the Indian Premier League.

“New Zealand have kicked on as a side in the last three years and it’s very much an opportunity for us to test ourselves against a very strong international side.

“They have been very successful at one-day cricket, reaching the final of the ICC World Cup, and have just gone above England in the Test rankings.”

Worcestershire suffered a disappointing 181-run defeat at Warwickshire on Tuesday in their latest LV= County Championship Division One outing.

Leatherdale says the match against the Black Caps is likely to be a 13 or 14-a-side contest to give more players a run-out.

“The two directors of cricket will be agreeing the format but it could be a 13 or 14-a-side game to give everyone a chance to play,” explained Leatherdale.

“Each team will only bat 11 players but it means both teams will have more strength in depth with their batting line-ups and all the bowlers will get a chance."

Worcestershire have strong links with New Zealand.

Kiwi duo Colin Munro and Mitchell McClenaghan played for Worcestershire last summer and the former is to return this summer for the NatWest T20 Blast.

“We also played against New Zealand in a Twenty20 match in 2013 on our pre-season tour to Abu Dhabi,” added Leatherdale.

"We saw at first-hand just how talented their players were."

Leatherdale is hoping the weather doesn’t cause too much disruption throughout the game.

“The weather for Friday, Saturday and Sunday appears to be well set but a band of rain could come our way on the first day," he said.

"Tour matches are always popular with our members and supporters.”