The talk in the lead-up was all about the sideshow, but now, finally, the focus can turn to the main event - the first Test between New Zealand and Australia in Wellington starting on Friday.
The Basin Reserve has been the scene of some famous battles between the trans-Tasman neighbours, none more so than the inaugural Test there in 1946 when the hosts were rolled by Lindwall and O'Reilly for 42 and 54.
New Zealand squared the ledger in 1989-90 when Richard Hadlee helped to rout the visitors for 110 in their first innings, though Australia struck back in 2000 with a six-wicket win.
The five draws between the teams in Wellington include the celebrated bat-fest of 1974 when the Chappell brothers made history by scoring a century in each innings.
But the one recurring theme to Tests at the Basin Reserve over the past 64 years is rain which is forecast for the final two days of this Test on Monday and Tuesday.
In between, conditions will be typically Wellington - cool, breezy and cloudy with a forecast top temperature of around 20 degrees on Friday and over the weekend.
The Australians are looking forward to their return to the five-day game after a two-month break to contest the shorter forms.
There will be at least one change, maybe more, to the side which defeated Pakistan in Hobart by 231 runs to complete a clean-sweep of Test victories over Mohammad Yousuf's men.
The injured Peter Siddle will be replaced by Clinton McKay or, if he's over his side strain, the uncapped Ryan Harris.
The tourists' own 'two-metre Peter' - Redbacks paceman Peter George who's been drafted into the squad as insurance for Harris - may need to bide his time.
Coming off centuries in his past two matches at Shield level and a career-best haul of 7-64 with his leggies against South Australia at the SCG, Steve Smith makes a compelling case for inclusion at No.6.
There's a nice mix in a Black Caps attack comprising Chris Martin, Daryl Tuffey, Tim Southee and Daniel Vettori, and they will make the most of home conditions.
But there's nothing at all intimidating about the hosts' top-order - Tim McIntosh, BJ Watling and Peter Ingram - on paper, at least, which leaves Ross Taylor with a heavy responsibility.
As for Michael Clarke, well, the sideshow hasn't disappeared completely, but a century might just help everyone else to 'move on'.