Australia is geared up to spoil the party for New Zealand's cricket centurions Kane Williamson and Tim Southee as they prepare to face off in the second Test starting on Friday, aiming to clinch the series.

Williamson and Southee will both mark their 100th appearances at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, with New Zealand seeking a maiden Test victory over Australia since 2011 to commemorate the milestone. However, the hosts face an uphill battle after suffering a 172-run defeat in the first Test of the two-match series last week in Wellington.

Australia has announced an unchanged lineup, with their key bowlers -- Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Nathan Lyon -- all retaining their spots, having played in all seven Tests this summer.

Speaking ahead of the match, Cummins, the Australian captain, expressed confidence in his team's freshness and emphasized the significance of the match in the context of the World Test Championship points at stake.

Both Williamson and Southee have had illustrious careers, with Williamson accumulating over 8,600 runs since his debut in 2010 and Southee claiming 378 wickets since his introduction in 2008.

Cummins hailed both players as stalwarts of New Zealand cricket, highlighting Williamson's consistency and describing him as the "prize wicket" for the opposition.

On the New Zealand side, with speedster Will O'Rourke sidelined due to injury, Ben Sears is poised to make his debut. Despite speculation about Neil Wagner's return following his retirement announcement, New Zealand coach Gary Stead has opted not to recall him for the match.

Southee addressed concerns about his own performance, acknowledging his desire to finish the summer on a high note despite not achieving the desired wicket tally so far.The stage is set for an intense battle as both teams aim to make their mark in this significant Test match.