Ruds hit a boundary to just about every corner of the ground during a mammoth innings of 239 a couple of years ago, and again when he stunned everyone with a sensational century on test debut last summer.
And Bazz, well, he is widely adored in these parts. We've watched his progress with pride since he was a nipper at King's High School, and seeing him swivel into a pull shot is one of the great pleasures in life.
To us, they are three fine Otago lads with an opportunity to shine on their home turf when the Black Caps play the West Indies in Dunedin next week.
But Black Caps coach Mike Hesson, opening batsman Hamish Rutherford and captain Brendon McCullum also have points to prove.
Hesson is an organised and thoughtful coach but his decision to demote former captain Ross Taylor and give the job to McCullum was widely criticised.
Everything from the way it was handled to the timing of the decision was the subject of national scrutiny, and some of the comments were brutal.
The controversy has died down but it still has the feel of a dormant tumour that will not disappear until it has been zapped by a couple of really good test wins.
McCullum's captaincy has been a revelation. He seems more willing to attack and trust his instincts than Taylor.
But while he has been aggressive and is a natural leader, he has not been able to guide New Zealand to a test win.
Success has a narrow interpretation in professional sport and McCullum needs a win to expand his support base north of the Waitaki.
Victory would be made even sweeter if he could play a telling innings. Astonishingly, he has not scored a test century in three years. That is not the McCullum we know.
Rutherford emerged from the shadow of his father - former New Zealand and Otago batsman Ken Rutherford - with a glorious century on test debut.
Those of us lucky enough to be at the University Oval on that day last summer thought we had witnessed the birth of a star.
For Hamish Rutherford to score 171 in the way he did, against such a strong England attack, was almost unimaginable.
The problem is he has not been able to follow up that fantastic performance. In the six tests since his debut, he has scored 236 runs at an average of 21.45.
That is a modest return and New Zealand cricket has not been disposed to persist with openers for very long.
Rutherford, though, has a first-class average of 49.07 at the University Oval, so who would bet against him producing something amazing?
