The rotation policy continued today with two changes to the 12 for the fourth match at McLean Park in Napier tomorrow.
In come Vettori and opening batsman Jesse Ryder, both rested for last Saturday's 43-run loss in Christchurch, while left-arm spinner Luke Woodcock and pace bowler Kyle Mills drop out.
Mills, Woodcock - who conceded 46 runs from 10 overs on debut at Christchurch and was New Zealand's best bowler - and James Franklin, the other player from the 15-man World Cup squad omitted from the 12, are training with the team in Napier but will be released to play for their respective domestic teams on Wednesday.
Vettori, Ryder and the 12th man at Christchurch, offspinner Nathan McCullum, will all play tomorrow, with Jacob Oram - a probable member of the first XI - expected to be handed drinks duties.
Franklin must be at the top of the list of aggrieved rotation victims. He scored heavily in India last December, was touted as a regular No 5 in the one-day team, but will miss his second successive match. He is yet to get a bat in the series, though he is clocking up the airmiles at a brisk rate.
"It's incredibly tough on James. He was our best batsman in India and we need performances from a guy like him," Vettori said.
"We want to see him do well as soon as we can ... but we're trying to not let (the rotation) affect us. Guys coming in and out, changing positions, it's always a little bit tough, but as an international cricketer you've got to be better than that and accept whatever comes."
When asked if the players accepted the theory of giving everyone in the squad game time, Vettori said: "It's tough. All these guys want to do is play.
"They want to force their case to be in the team and play that opening game of the World Cup. So when they're not in the XI it's difficult to force your case."
The captain felt something resembling a first XI would be fielded in the final two matches of the series, in Hamilton on Thursday and Auckland on Saturday.
"I think that's the way the selectors talked at the start ... so that going into the World Cup we make sure we're starting to get an idea of what is the best 11," Vettori said. "I don't think we've got it down pat yet and we need to find out pretty quickly."
From now the 15 will come together between matches for training and bonding purposes, with the players who miss out on each match released to play domestically.
"I think (coach John Wright) and I are on the same page in that we'd love to have all the guys together, but we don't want players sitting around for 10 days without a game," Vettori said.
"If we can get them all together, help out with training and get that squad mentality going, then the guys who aren't selected go and play domestic cricket, I think that's the ideal scenario. I think that will happen for the next three games."
With the series level at 1-1, tomorrow's match is crucial and New Zealand need to find a way to halt Pakistan's momentum after the tourists cruised to victory in Christchurch.
Batting generally decides matches here on what is invariably a belter, with scores over 300 not considered safe.
To post that sort of total, New Zealand will need one or two batsmen to score heavily, something they did not achieve in Christchurch, and counter the reverse swinging ball if it comes into play.
To deny Pakistan a 300-plus score, their death bowling will have to improve markedly, especially with the likes of Shahid Afridi, who smashed 65 off 25 balls in Christchurch, on a roll.
With two spinners - Vettori and Nathan McCullum - set to play as well as an extra batsman, Jacob Oram is expected to be the 12th man. That would leave a deep batting lineup but only Tim Southee and Hamish Bennett as pace bowlers.
Vettori confirmed Ryder and Martin Guptill would open, with Brendon McCullum again down the order.
Pakistan are expected to go with the same XI.
