NAPIER, New Zealand, CMC:

WEST INDIES coach John Dyson has urged his players to produce "good, hard cricket" to get the result they need in the second Test against New Zealand at McLean Park, to clinch the series.

After a drawn result in the rain-marred first Test in Dunedin, the two teams clashed last night (Ja time) in the decider of the short two-match series.

The pitch traditionally favours batting but Dyson believed an all-out team effort with discipline and intensity could land the Caribbean side its first series win over New Zealand in 12 years.

"I believe this pitch will make for good, hard cricket and we are prepared to play good, hard cricket. Whoever holds their nerve and plays hard and disciplined cricket should come out on top in this match," Dyson said on Wednesday after the team concluded a three-hour training session at Nelson Park, near the match venue.

Hard work

Dyson described the pitch as looking "flat, dry and hard" and said his players realise a victory would only come from hard work.

"We know we have a chance of winning and we will be going into the match with confidence. We played well in Dunedin and we will be looking to press on from there and that's what we will be aiming to do in this Test match. We know it won't be easy, we know we have to work hard, that's all part of Test cricket," Dyson said.

The first Test at University Oval in Dunedin ended in a draw last weekend with Jerome Taylor taking the Man-of-the-Match award for his brilliant 106 off 107 balls.

Meanwhile, Kiwi captain and left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori declared on the eve of the match that Jeetan Patel was in line for a rare supporting role at McLean Park at the expense of either Kyle Mills or Mark Gillespie.

"I probably put the onus on Jeetan and myself to be the strike bowlers throughout this Test match," Vettori said.

"The seamers will be complementary to what we're trying to do," added Vettori, who took 6-56 in the West Indies' only innings during the drawn first Test in Dunedin last week.

'Elite' test-palying countries

Displaced by the Windies for the number seven spot in the International Cricket Council's Test ratings early this month, New Zealand's pride would be further dented with a home loss in this series between the lowest-ranked of all the 'elite' Test-playing countries.

But the Black Caps' coach Andy Moles spoke confidently on Wednesday and suggested that the home side can definitely win.

"The players know from what we saw in the last Test match, that we're certainly good enough to beat the West Indies," Moles said.