Matthew Wade's back injury resulted in Australia opting for their fourth-choice captain in Auckland, but the team is upbeat their wicketkeeper will be fit for the second ODI against New Zealand.
Wade failed a fitness test on Monday morning, having tweaked his back at training on Sunday.
The absence of the stumper further depleted an XI that had already been compromised by Australia's upcoming tour of India.
Recalled opener Aaron Finch was named skipper at Eden Park, where Sam Heazlett made his international debut at age 21.
Skipper Steve Smith is missing the three-match ODI series because of an ankle injury, while vice-captain David Warner was rested from the trans-Tasman trip.
Test squad members Usman Khawaja and Mitch Marsh, both seemingly part of Australia's first-choice ODI XI, are also skipping the Chappell-Hadlee series.
The early indication is Wade won't be joining them, according to team doctor John Orchard.
"We will make a decision on his availability for Thursday's match in Napier in due course but at this stage our expectation is that this is a short-term injury," Orchard said.
The presence of Peter Handscomb means Australia are unlikely to summon a replacement stumper for Wade, should the veteran be sent home and told to focus on getting his body right for the four-Test tour of India that starts next month.
Handscomb, who also filled in for an ill Wade during one day of the SCG Test this month, has proven a handy keeper for Melbourne Stars and Victoria.
He held a leg-side catch to dismiss Tom Latham at Eden Park but dropped a rearing chance when dangerman Martin Guptill was on 15.
Wade has played 87 ODIs and 16 Tests for Australia, with his experience highly regarded by national selectors.
He replaced Peter Nevill in the Test XI earlier this summer and has a golden chance in India to entrench himself as Australia's first-choice keeper in every format.
"I'm hugely disappointed but after getting checked out this morning I knew I would not be able to play," Wade said.
Nevill would be Wade's obvious replacement in the Indian touring party if the setback proves more serious than first thought.
Wade's back spasms delivered the latest reminder of a cramped schedule that has left Australia taking part in three different series in three different countries during February, forcing selectors to make bold calls like resting Warner.
Some members of the ODI squad in New Zealand will quickly depart for Dubai, where Australia are conducting a pre-India training camp in an effort to end their nine-Test losing streak in Asia.
That list includes Wade, Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Glenn Maxwell.
Others, like Finch, will face Sri Lanka in a home Twenty20 series.
