Allott has never played at the ground before in a five-season first-class career, but will get the opportunity to familiarise himself when New Zealand plays a two-day game against Otago there on an adjacent pitch on Monday and Tuesday.
``It will be good to have that work-out and get a line on the pace and carry of the pitch,'' he said yesterday.
Allott acknowledged that facing India with five batsmen ranked in the world's top 20 was daunting.
``We have to make the most of every opportunity we get. I wouldn't read too much into them failing first-up against Central Districts. They will soon get accustomed to New Zealand conditions.''
Allott's return is his third comeback from a stress fracture. This time a year ago his playing prospects were dim as he battled lower back pain on the New Zealand team's Australian tour and eventually he broke down on New Year's Day playing for Canterbury.
A remodelled bowling action worked on over winter in consultation with New Zealand Academy coaches Dayle Hadlee and Ashley Ross led to Allott being fast-tracked back into the Black Caps, initially in the one-day arena in September.
Fellow left-armer O'Connor, who superseded Allott in the team after his injury, made a favourable impression in his debut season with 18 wickets in six tests at 35.38. Allott has taken 11 wickets also from six tests at 60.63.
``It's great to get another opportunity, I'll be wanting to make the most of it,'' Allott said. The selection was an early birthday present for the left-arm fast-medium bowler who turns 27 on Christmas Eve.
Selection panel convener Ross Dykes said Allott was selected ahead of O'Connor because he offered more pace and bounce and was likely to be better suited to the conditions expected for the first test at Carisbrook starting Friday week.
Allott has been working with Ross at the high performance centre at Lincoln University. His action has been altered to reduce the pressure on his lower back by getting him to the crease completely front-on rather than a mixture of side-on and front-on which had caused the problems in the past.
``So far, touch wood, there have been no problems.''
Dykes said O'Connor was not out of the selection picture and with the attrition rate of pace bowlers was more than likely to appear in New Zealand colours this summer.
``I'm sure Shayne will come back hungrier than ever,'' Dykes said.
The other selection of note is the inclusion of 21-year old Matthew Bell, of Wellington, to open the batting. Dykes believed the time was right for his introduction to test level.
``He's shown himself to be the most consistent of the openers in the Conference series and we believe he is ready to move up.''
Bell, while delighted with selection, revealed he has been suffering from an ongoing stomach complaint. The problem surfaced again when Bell had to leave the field while batting for New Zealand A against Pakistan A in Hamilton last weekend.
Bell believes the trouble stems from a stomach upset at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in September.
He is being treated with antibiotics and is confident of overcoming the ailment before his test debut.