Kenya return to the site of their finest cricketing hour - 2003's World Cup semi-final - but subsequent regression has left them a shadow of their former self.
Kenya have been on the slide since the 2003 World Cup when they shot to prominence by reaching the semi-finals.
The success ought to have been a springboard to bigger things but instead they have gone backwards and have not beaten any established Test nation since the famous victory over Sri Lanka, even losing seven out of seven to Bangladesh.
There have been problems outside the squad too: a series of player strikes paralysed progress two years ago.
Collins Obuya, a star in 2003, no longer bowls legspin, playing as a batting specialist, while their top batsman in 2003 Maurice Odumbe has quit the game.
Earlier in the year they won the ICC World Cricket League but anything else would have represented further regression given the quality of opposition.
They have a tough draw in the Kiwis and Sri Lanka and will cause a huge shock if making any progress.
Key Player
Steve Tikolo topped batting and bowling averages in the World Cup, scoring as many runs as any two team-mates put together. If that over-states his influence slightly then the veteran is still their most stylish run-maker and an exponent of easily under-estimated right-arm tweakers. The captain for most of the last five years will need to roll back the years if he is to lead his team into the second phase.
Wildcard
Tanmay Mishra is an aggressive bat and the top-scoring Kenyan in Twenty20 to date. He had a poor World Cup but has performed creditably in ODIs against the associate countries. Tikolo and Thomas Odoyo will need some youthful energy and power from somewhere.
Likely to flop
Rajesh Bhudia has played in both Kenya's Twenty20 internationals, bowling 6.4 overs for 61. Neither game has been especially competitive or high-scoring, so Jayasuriya and Oram will be an unwelcome sight.
What might have been
Johannesburg isn't the safest place imaginable but they are unlikely to get forfeits due to security fears again. It is also not as if there are a host of international-ready players sitting at home. When elimination is expected, there can be few "what if?"s.
Squad
Steve Tikolo (capt), Thomas Odoyo (vice capt), Morris Ouma, David Obuya, Tanmay Mishra, Collins Obuya, Alex Obanda, Jimmy Kamande, Hiren Varaiya, Peter Ongondo, Elijah Otieno, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Rajesh Bhudia, Tony Suji, Lameck Onyango.
