Signs are positive for strike bowler Tim Southee to make his return for New Zealand in the opening Test against Australia in Wellington.
Southee's last appearance for the Black Caps was in the third one-dayer against Sri Lanka in Nelson on New Year's Eve, when he picked up a foot injury.
He ended his spell on the sidelines by playing for Northern Districts against Central District in Napier in a Plunket Shield fixture.
In the match that ended on Monday, Southee bowled a total of 23 overs, taking 2-67.
Two days out from the start of the first Test on Friday, he says he's feeling in "pretty good" shape.
"I got through the four-day game unscathed so hopefully I get through today and scrub up all right tomorrow," he said.
He said the amount of bowling he did at McLean Park was in line with the pre-game target.
"We sort of aimed to be around mid-20s and I got through 23 overs, so it was a reasonable workload."
Southee's tally of 163 scalps from 46 Tests puts him fifth on New Zealand's all-time list of Test wicket-takers.
The 27-year-old swing bowler's availability will boost a New Zealand camp whose confidence is already high after their one-day series win over Australia.
But for Southee, Chappell-Hadlee Trophy success would not necessarily influence the way the Test series unfolded.
"There are a few different personnel coming in and they have had a lot of success in Test cricket in recent times," he said of Australia.
"You can't read too much into what happened in the one-day series comparing it with the Test series."
Southee said whenever New Zealand played in Australia and in whatever sport, the bar was raised.
The Black Caps would have home advantage, operating in conditions they are more familiar with than when they lost the three-Test series across the Tasman in November 2-0.
"It's something foreign for them and I guess there's a slight edge there if we can make the most of it," Southee said.
"But they're a quality team and they've got quality players, and they've performed in various conditions around the world."
He said Australia would have the added incentive of going to No.1 in the Test rankings if they won the series.
Southee had yet to have a close look at the Basin Reserve wicket, but he said the ground had traditionally offered something for both the bowlers and the batsmen.
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