The Black Caps will tackle South Africa in the second Test at Wellington's Basin Reserve without opening bowler Trent Boult.
Boult's hip and pelvis problems haven't cleared in time for the second match in the three-Test series beginning Thursday.
Fellow seamer Tim Southee, dropped for the rain-affected first Test which ended in a draw in Dunedin on Sunday, is expected to be called in as Boult's replacement.
"There was range of emotions I went through, but you've just got to get on with it and work hard," Southee said on Wednesday.
"Obviously I'm a little bit fresher after having had a week off - I'm excited to get back out there.
"It's never nice missing out, but I'm looking forward putting the whites on again."
Although he spent some time on field at University Oval as a replacement fielder, Southee was keen to test himself against the South Africans on a Basin Reserve wicket which had been mostly under cover since Friday.
"I haven't had a close look - I had a look from a bit of a distance while we were doing some fielding out there.
"Obviously with the weather they've had over the last week or so, it hasn't been ideal," he said.
"There might be a little bit to offer with the surface early on, but it tends to be a pretty good cricket wicket."
Southee said the starting 11 had yet to be finalised, beyond his inclusion for Boult and Neil Broom's for Ross Taylor, ruled out with a calf strain.
"There's still a couple of question marks around a couple of players, but they'll finalise the rest of the side tomorrow."
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