Tom Latham speaks about his new role captaining the new-look Black Caps side for a May Tri-series against Ireland and Bangladesh.

A failed experiment from four years ago is set to be revived, with New Zealand wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi to be tried once again as a one-day international opening batsman.

Coach Mike Hesson, who leaves on Thursday with the advance party for the Ireland tri-series, confirmed Ronchi would be trialled as a potential opening partner for Martin Guptill at the Champions Trophy.

Ronchi, Tom Latham and possibly Colin Munro - who isn't in the Champions Trophy squad of 15 - would all get time at the top against Ireland and Bangladesh in four ODIs this month before their tournament opener against Australia at Edgbaston on June 2.

GETTY IMAGES Luke Ronchi retains the selectors' faith in New Zealand's ODI squad and will get another chance to prove his worth as an opener.

It almost has the feel of Brendon McCullum Idol, auditioning openers to fill a similar blockbusting role to take some heat off their ODI kingpin Guptill.

READ MORE:

* Anderson delivers for Delhi

* Bangladesh bowlers banned 10 years

* Venue switch for day-night test?

Ronchi was tried as an opener in 2013 in the leadup to the same tournament but foundered against the moving ball. After scores of 0, 2, and 22 against England, he made 7 against Australia, 14 against Sri Lanka and 2 against England as New Zealand narrowly missed the semifinals.

ANTHONY AU-YEUNG/GETTY IMAGES Luke Ronchi will likely keep wicket to Jeetan Patel in the Champions Trophy opener against Australia on June 2.

Hesson said, for the sake of team balance and being able to play two pace bowling allrounders, the wicketkeeper needed to open in what the coach predicted would be a high-scoring Champions Trophy tournament.

"We're wanting both Luke and Tom to play an aggressive brand of cricket if conditions allow it. They're certainly going to have to play in a brave fashion," he said.

Both struggled badly for runs with the ODI gloves last summer, as did BJ Watling when tried in Australia. Still, Hesson resisted the temptation to trial Tom Blundell or Glenn Phillips in ODIs at home and signalled a long way out that Ronchi and Latham would be his picks for the troublesome wicketkeeper's spot.

GETTY IMAGES Captain Tom Latham will vie with Luke Ronchi as a hard-hitting opener and wicketkeeper in the Champions Trophy warmup series in Ireland.

For Ronchi, 36, it's hardly ideal to move back to a position he admitted a dislike for in the past, but it becomes a nothing to lose situation as he looks to prolong his 78-ODI career.

"It's fair to say Luke hasn't got the runs he would have liked in the middle [order] either. Luke is certainly the best 'keeper in the country in white ball cricket and that is something we take very seriously, especially when you're likely to play two spinners at times [Mitchell Santner and Jeetan Patel]," Hesson said.

"Luke has had experience with it, he's going to have some games in Ireland and both him and Tom will get opportunities."

Latham was excellent opening with Guptill in the India ODIs last October, but his run drought coincided with being handed the gloves for the Australia and South Africa series.

He will captain the side in Kane Williamson's absence in Ireland, with Ronchi likely to take the gloves for most of the tri-series and hopefully gain some confidence with the bat.

Munro, meanwhile, is also on track to becoming a limited overs opening contender after he was overlooked for the Champions Trophy squad in favour of allrounder Corey Anderson.

The power hitting left-hander and medium pacer was dropped from the ODI team after the Chappell-Hadlee series and, after struggling in the middle order will be used up higher in 50-over cricket in future.

"If Colin wants to play with the freedom that he likes and is best suited to, it means either starting or finishing. That's something we've talked with Colin about, if he wants to play in that fashion it's easier to do it with the field up," Hesson said.

"That's something he's going to have to do a little bit more of, at first-class level. He showed with his move to No 3 in Twenty20, that certainly got the best out of him."

The remainder of the New Zealand squad depart on Saturday, and will be joined in Ireland at various stages by their eight Indian Premier League players depending on how far their franchises progress. Some, like fast bowler Adam Milne whose Royal Challengers Bangalore are out of playoff contention, may be released sooner and the fast bowler will likely get at least one game in Ireland.

AT A GLANCE

New Zealand squad for Ireland ODI tri-series: Tom Latham (captain), Luke Ronchi, Colin Munro, George Worker, Ross Taylor, Neil Broom, Henry Nicholls, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Scott Kuggeleijn, Neil Wagner, Seth Rance, Hamish Bennett, Ish Sodhi, Jeetan Patel (game four only).

To join when IPL commitments end: Kane Williamson, Martin Guptill, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Mitchell McClenaghan, Corey Anderson, Colin de Grandhomme.

Itinerary: May 14 v Ireland, Dublin; May 17 v Bangladesh, Clontarf; May 21 v Ireland, Dublin; May 24 v Bangladesh, Clontarf.