New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said on Wednesday the tourists still had plenty to play for despite going into Thursday's final Test against England at Trent Bridge 2-0 down in the three-match series.
"We haven't won too many in our history in England. It's an opportunity to win one more in England, so that's very special," Fleming told reporters at Trent Bridge.
New Zealand have only won four out of their 46 previous Tests in England.
England are on the brink of completing their first major whitewash since their 3-0 home defeat of New Zealand back in 1978.
They crushed the current generation of Kiwis by seven wickets at Lord's and followed that up with a nine-wicket win at Headingley concluded Monday.
"It's still very disappointing not to be part of a live series but winning a Test match in this series is the only thing we've got to cling on to," left-handed batsman Fleming added.
His team have missed fast bowler Shane Bond who, without bowling a ball in the series, returned to New Zealand on Tuesday to continue his recovery from a stress fracture of the back.
{{/usCountry}}His team have missed fast bowler Shane Bond who, without bowling a ball in the series, returned to New Zealand on Tuesday to continue his recovery from a stress fracture of the back.
{{/usCountry}}But Fleming said New Zealand's series defeat was largely down to an England team that had dominated their opponents and cramped his style.
"The most frustrating thing for me was being behind the game in positions where we should be able to be a bit more imaginative. We're actually on the defensive from ball one," added Fleming.
New Zealand could make several changes to the team that lost at Headingley.
Left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori was declared "extremely unlikely to the point of being negligible," for this match by tour manager Lindsay Crocker after pulling a hamstring.
His place could be taken by left-arm swing bowler James Franklin, called up from club cricket in England.
Right-arm pace bowler Kyle Mills, in the tour party but yet to play in the Test series, is also in contention with Daryl Tuffey the bowler under threat.
"I'd say it was pretty strong," said Fleming when asked about the likelihood of changes to a bowling attack he again berated for a "lack of penetration".
"The left-armer (Franklin) certainly comes into consideration and without the left-arm spinner that seems a logical choice."
Headingley opening batsman Michael Papps is definitely out with a broken finger but the man he replaced, Craig McMillan, could play despite a similar injury keeping him out of the second Test.
Mathew Sinclair, like Franklin plucked out of English club cricket, provides batting cover.
All-rounder Jacob Oram has a broken right little finger but has recovered from the side strain that prevented him bowling at Headingley.
Meanwhile New Zealand stalwart Chris Cairns has said this will be his last Test, on a ground where he starred for Nottinghamshire.
The all-rounder's knee injury problems have made five-day cricket increasingly tough and Fleming said: "He (Cairns) always inspires. I'm going to miss not playing with him in Test cricket.
"But it's just the right time for him to go. He didn't have the sting in his tail with the ball he wanted the other day and that's something he's known for some time.
"We just hope he's got something special to go out with. It's the perfect ground for him to do it."