Wagner has withdrawn from the squad to await the birth of his first child and while Matt Henry was drafted into the 13-man squad as cover Williamson said on Thursday he had not been included in the 12 that will make up the final selection.

"We just want to have another look at this surface," Williamson told reporters. "It's got a different look to what we're used to seeing here at the Basin."

If selected, the 2.03m Jamieson would join spearheads Trent Boult and Tim Southee in a three-pronged pace attack but Williamson said it would not be easy to fill Wagner's shoes.

"You don't replace a guy like Neil," he added. "The qualities that he brings are quite unique but you then bring in a guy who targets slightly different areas, coming from a slightly different height as well."

Allrounders Colin de Grandhomme and Daryl Mitchell and left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel are likely to be the gunning for the remaining two spots depending on the final inspection of the pitch before play starts.

Basin Reserve groundsman Hagen Faith said he expected the pitch to be competitive throughout the Test but Wellington's wet summer had not helped in preparing the ground.

He expected spinners would come into play later in the Test as the pitch broke down, but signs on Thursday were that any assistance was likely to come from bounce rather than turn.

Australian Associated Press