Teenage pace bowler Tim Southee appears to have the inside running for a Test recall against Australia after being named in New Zealand's XI to face New South Wales.
Southee, 19, has been named in a four-pronged pace attack against NSW for a four-day warm-up match at the Sydney Cricket Ground ahead of the first Test in Brisbane on November 20.
Southee's inclusion means all-rounder Grant Elliot is likely to miss out on facing the Australians for the first time.
Elliot's name was thrown up as a possible replacement for Jacob Oram, who is recovering from a back injury and will play no part in the two-Test series.
But the New Zealand selectors have opted for four specialist seamers in Southee, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien and Chris Martin for the tourists' only warm-up fixture.
The selection of four pace bowlers is made with an eye to the first Test at the Gabba, where it is expected to assist the pace bowlers with bounce and seam.
That leaves no place for Elliot or off-spinner Jeetan Patel, who may come into consideration at the spin-friendly Adelaide Oval in the second Test.
New Zealand's batting order is led by openers Jamie How and Perth-born Aaron Redmond, followed by the aggressiveness of Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum.
Following Daniel Flynn at six, skipper Daniel Vettori slides up to number seven in the absence of Oram to assume even more responsibility alongside his captaincy and spin bowling duties.
New Zealand: Jamie How, Aaron Redmond, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Flynn, Daniel Vettori (captain), Kyle Mills, Tim Southee, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin