Toilets, Sinks, Showers, Tubs and Disposals - Bathtub drain

I'm about to replace my 1959 bathtub. I have access to the water line and it's regular copper. That I have confidence to handle. My question is about the bathtub drain. I don't have access to see the drain from beneath because of a finished basement.

What should I expect to find? Does a 2005 tub have the drain in the same place...and it should line up? And, I 'assume' it's not plastic drainage I'll be connecting into. Is it job for a handy doityourselfer to hook the drain up correctly or is this a job for a plumber?

Thanks for any advice. I just want to get all my ducks lined up in a row before I get out the ripping bar. If I need to hire a plumber to do the drain I'll have him do the water supply also while he's here.

they make a drain wrench that you can disconnect the drain from the top....the new tub should come with a drain rough in measurement sheet..
be prepared to use rubber connector and pvc pipe is you have to move the drain.i know on my house the old metal drain pipe was good until i started messing with it...with a little experience and time you can get it done,but also if money is not a concern i would hire a plumber so you dont have to worry about leaks in the finished basement.
also look for my post on this topic,im just a home owner also,as there are good guys here that can give you more info,and have a lot ,more experience than me....good luck

Personally I would try it from above and see how it goes. If I ran into much trouble with the drain line I would cut a hole in the ceiling down below, plumb it properly (and usually more easily), and then patch the hole in the sheetrock.