New Zealand are battling to avoid only their third 3-0 home series defeat and first in 24 years.
The hosts have not confirmed their XI for what will be seamer Tim Southee's farewell Test. In hot conditions in Hamilton, spin-bowling all-rounder Mitchell Santner could come in for pace bowler Nathan Smith, while opener Will Young replaces Devon Conway, who is on paternity leave.
Southee, 36, leaves Test cricket on his home ground after a 16-year career. In 106 matches he has taken 389 wickets and sits behind only the great Sir Richard Hadlee on New Zealand's all-time wicket-takers list.
One end of Seddon Park has been renamed after Southee for this match. At the other end is a statue of a camel in reference to a Southee nickname 'the Sexy Camel'.
"He will be remembered as one of the greats of our game," said New Zealand captain Tom Latham. "We'll certainly miss him but he will leave a legacy that will last for a long time."
This will be England's 17th Test of 2024, the joint-most they have played in a calendar year.
It has been a year of regeneration, with James Anderson, Ollie Robinson, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes and Jack Leach replaced by Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse and Shoaib Bashir.
"It has been a tough old slog," said Stokes. "It's a lot of Test matches in different conditions. It's been great seeing guys put in some special performances. We've learnt a lot about guys we've given opportunities to."