Devon Conway remains a possibility to play for New Zealand in the first Test against Australia at the Basin Reserve starting on Thursday.
Black Caps coach Gary Stead today said the top-order batter was getting advice on a thumb injury suffered in the first T20I defeat to Australia at Eden Park last week.
"We're still investigating Devon's thumb at the moment — he's still seeing a number of specialists," Stead said. "We won't see him at training today but we are hoping we can make a call tomorrow morning.
"He's had a bat in his hands a few times. It's not comfortable at the moment.
"We obviously want Devon to play, he's a key person in our batting order and his record obviously speaks for itself. We want to give him every chance to be available."
Should Conway be ruled out it would be another blow after the Black Caps were swept 3-0 in the T20I series.
Conway has been struggling for form but struck 58 in the second innings of his side's victory over South Africa in the second Test and 63 off 46 balls in the narrow defeat to Australia in the first T20I in Wellington.
His quality and Test average of just over 41 will be difficult to replace against an Australian side with batting power throughout.
Fast bowler Kyle Jamieson has already been ruled out with a stress fracture in his back, but Stead said top-order batter and part-time spinner Rachin Ravindra was training after a recent knee issue and would be available.
Stead the decision to leave out Neil Wagner, which effectively prompted the 37-year-old's retirement announcement today, was a difficult one.
"I don't want to take anything away from Neil and the bowler he's been for a very, very long time.
"The skill set he has, and by Neil's own admission he hasn't been the most gifted bowler in the world, what he's been able to do — he's terrorised some batsmen at times — has been incredible."
Stead said he hadn't seen the Basin Reserve pitch yet — it appears very green — and therefore a decision on his bowling attack had not been made.
"We'll get through training first, with our luck recently you never know what might happen," he said.
He confirmed spinner Mitch Santner was a possibility to play after being left out recently against Seddon Park — a decision Stead later said was an error given the turn the pitch provided.
Under Stead's leadership, New Zealand have only beaten Australia in T20Is, something he said he wasn't dwelling on.
"Not really. We don't play Australia often which is odd given they're just across the Tasman. They always set the benchmark and are currently world Test champions. They are for a reason — they're a very good side. It's an opportunity.
"There's no doubt it's an enormous task but that's why we play the game, to make surprises, and I think we've seen a number in Test cricket recently which gives us hope as well."
Australia top-order batter Usman Khawaja, meanwhile, said the weather conditions in Wellington would play a big part in the result.
"The wicket looks pretty green out there," he said. "Sometimes the New Zealand wickets look worse than they play. It depends on the conditions above. If the sun comes out even if you have a really green wicket if you get through the new ball it can be a pretty nice place to bat. But overcast conditions, green wicket, it can be quite tough.
"They're a good attack. New Zealand always seem to produce very good teams. I've never faced a New Zealand team where I've thought 'this is an easy attack'."
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