England will not allow New Zealand's recent woes to lull them into a false sense of security, the tourists' Twenty 20 captain Stuart Broad insisted Wednesday. England head into the tour as firm favourites over the Black Caps, who lost two recent Test matches in South Africa by an innings and have been destabilised by Ross Taylor's axeing as captain in favour of Brendon McCullum.

But Broad pointed to New Zealand's face-saving one-day series win over the Proteas after their Test losses as proof the Black Caps will still pose a threat on the tour, particularly as they will be playing on home soil. "We know New Zealand have just beaten South Africa in the one-day format and having played a lot of Twenty20 cricket against them, we know they're very dangerous," Broad told reporters.

"We'll have to prepare for that and get used to the conditions as much as we can. We know New Zealand have some fantastic Twenty20 players and that's who we'll concentrate on... we'll have to be at the top of our game." England arrived Tuesday night in New Zealand after winning their recent four-Test series in India 2-1 but losing the subsequent one-day series 3-2.

The tour begins with three T20s, followed by three one-dayers then three Tests. Broad was reluctant to comment on New Zealand's Test prospects, a format in which the hosts are ranked eighth in the world and England second, saying his side would approach each section of the tour separately. "If we focus on New Zealand cricket and what is going to happen ahead we'll lose sight of what we need to do," he said. The first T20 international will be at Auckland's Eden Park on February 9.

Meanwhile, Daniel Vettori is unlikely to recover from his Achilles injury in time to be fit for the home series against England, the New Zealand all-rounder told local media.Although aiming to play domestic one-day cricket at the end of February, Vettori said he would be unable to play any longer-form games in the lead up to the three-Test series, which starts with the first match in Dunedin on March 6. "I'm hoping to be available for selection for Northern Districts' one-day campaign, and then whatever happens from there happens," Vettori said in comments published by Fairfax Media on Wednesday, referring to his domestic side.

Northern Districts play their first match in New Zealand's local one-day competition on February 26. "I won't be able to play any four-day cricket, so the test matches against England may be a stretch for me." Vettori, New Zealand's most experienced international, said the return tour to England starting in May was a more realistic goal.

"But Achilles are funny things, they come and go with the pain and I need to prove to not only the selectors, but myself, that I can manage back-to-back days of cricket. That's the plan, but I'll just see how I go," the 34-year-old added.

Former captain Vettori hurt his foot at the World Twenty20 tournament in September and missed New Zealand's subsequent tours to Sri Lanka and South Africa. New Zealand head into their home series against England a lowly eighth in the Test rankings and after a demoralising 2-0 series loss away to the Proteas.