Boult and Southee combined for 13 wickets in New Zealand's last two Tests against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in November and with the pitch at Christchurch's Hagley Oval set to benefit the two pacemen much more than those in Dubai and Sharjah, wicketkeeper BJ Watling is expecting big things.
The last time New Zealand played Sri Lanka, Boult and Southee combined for 15 wickets as the Kiwis triumphed by 167 runs in Colombo.
"A lot of people have been saying it's been a good wicket, Hagley Oval," Watling said on Wednesday.
"I've never played on it before but hopefully there will be a bit of bounce and carry for us, and that can really test the Sri Lankan team.
"I'd say it's good for Southee and Boult. Hopefully it's swinging around as well. I've just watched them demolish Wellington [in the Plunket Shield - New Zealand's domestic first class competition] last week and that was good fun."
Sri Lanka are coming off a 5-2 one-day international series win over England, while their most recent Test series was a 2-0 win over Pakistan in August.
New Zealand are fresh off a 3-2 ODI series win over Pakistan.
Prior to that, the three-match Test series against Pakistan was drawn with one win apiece either side of a draw.
After opening the batting against Pakistan in the UAE, Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum will drop back down the order on Friday.
The flatter pitches of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah were more suited to McCullum's style - and he scored another double-century - but the lively wickets in New Zealand see the captain revert to his more accustomed middle-order position.
It is expected Hamish Rutherford will return to the top of the order alongside Tom Latham, with injured all-rounder Corey Anderson dropping out of the XI.
Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath will miss the first Test with a hamstring injury he picked up in the ODI series against England.
It is a big blow for the tourists with Herath having taken 23 wickets in Sri Lanka's two-Test series against Pakistan.
But Sri Lankan bowling coach Chaminda Vaas believes the five pacemen under his charge can make an impact in New Zealand.
"All five seamers on tour have a lot of ability," Vass said of Suranga Lakmal, Shaminda Eranga, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep and Dushmantha Chameera.
"It's very rare that we get five guys together who can all bowl 140 kilometres per hour.
"The conditions in New Zealand are great for quicks, and as a seamer you are overjoyed when you see tracks like what you have here, because you don't get that in Sri Lanka.
"The pitches give you swing, and then if you bowl well, you can trap batsmen."