Can New Zealand dethrone Australia?

It hardly seems possible but if Australia lose the three-match one-day series against New Zealand, which starts in Wellington on Friday, they could lose their one-day No 1 ranking. And with a host of big-name absentees, they are about as vulnerable as they will ever be.

Captain Ricky Ponting is resting his stiff back, Adam Gilchrist is taking some time off to be with his wife, who is pregnant, and Andrew Symonds misses the series through injury.

To add injury to injury, Brett Lee is doubtful for the first match after picking up an ankle injury in training, so the Aussies will have to rely on understudies. They are still favourites, of course, at 8/15 (1.53) but New Zealand look excellent value at 11/8.

The Black Caps are at full strength and though their record against Australia is not that good (whose is?) they must be sensing a great chance to get one over on their neighbours.

New Zealand are 11/10 to win Friday's first game and that looks a decent price, especially as they are at full strength as they test their World Cup side.

In terms of batting, Matthew Hayden is the 3/1 favourite to be his side's top runscorer, just ahead of Michael Clarke and Phil Jaques, who replaces Gilchrist at the top of the order. Mike Hussey, Brad Haddin (Gilchrist's replacement behind the stumps) and Brad Hodge are all 9/2, which just goes to show that bet365 don't really have too many clues this time.

For New Zealand, captain Stephen Fleming is 7/2 favourite, just ahead of Lou Vincent at 4/1. Ross Taylor and Scott Styris are both 5/1 while the big-hitting Jacob Oram and Craig McMillan are each 13/2.