New Zealand are banking on their experience of fighting their way out of a hole, to give them a shot of winning the second Test against Sri Lanka.

They start day four at the Basin Reserve with a 118-run lead and only five wickets in hand, but believe they can get into a position to put Sri Lanka under pressure batting last and force an unlikely win.

Crucially, they have both Kane Williamson (80) and BJ Watling (48) well set after a valuable partnership which dragged an innings that was in danger of disintegrating to a point where the side is giving themselves half a chance.

“There’s always a possibility of winning. You can see how quickly it can change out there. We were 75 for none and then all of a sudden 80 for three,” said opener Tom Latham.

“Whatever runs we get on the board, I’m sure we’re going to give it a good crack at winning.”

Williamson was dropped on 60 but rode his luck to guide the hosts to 253-5.

Latham believes he and Watling are well-suited to the predicament the hosts find themselves in as they seek to defend their 1-0 series lead.

“Kane and BJ are perfect guys to be out there at the moment.

“We’ve shown when we’ve been in these situations before (and) how we can get through – India last year and over in Sharjah (against Pakistan).

“We’ve certainly got fighting characteristics throughout the side.”

Sri Lanka paceman Dhammika Prasad said they had a plan to target the New Zealand pair and expected more turn for left-arm spinner Rangana Herath on a wearing pitch to aid their bid to level the series.