New Zealand are confident of gaining their first Test win ever in the Caribbean after setting West Indies a fourth innings target of 474 with two days remaining.

The tourists scored 243 in their second innings, leaving the West Indies needing a world record 474 to win the first Test.

West Indies openers Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds survived four tense overs before stumps on day three, scoring five without loss.

But they need a total never before achieved in the fourth innigns of a Test to avoid defeat.

"It would have been nice to get a wicket tonight but it was nice to set them a target of 474 after being 117 for five on the first day," said Kiwi coach Denis Aberhart.

"If we bowl well enough we will win the game. There is inconsistent bounce on the wicket. All we need to do is bowl straight enough."

New Zealand's pace corps will be boosted by the second innings return of West Indies paceman Pedro Collins, who took a Test-best six for 76, with nine maidens.

Collins' efforts appear to have been in vain but the left-armer still has confidence in his batsmen to complete the job.

"In the last one-day game [against New Zealand] we had 292 to get and we did it," he said.

"We believed we could get there. We are still in with a chance in this game."