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Brisbane - New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee will undergo a fitness test on Wednesday to determine whether he will take part in the second Test against Australia which starts in Perth on Friday.
Southee suffered an irritated disc in his back while bowling Thursday in the first innings of the first test at Brisbane, which Australia won by 208 runs.
New Zealand flew to Perth on Tuesday and coach Mike Hesson admitted the long flight wouldn't be the best therapy for Southee's injury.
But he remained confident the New Zealand pace spearhead will play at the WACA Ground where New Zealand must win to square the three-Test series.
Hesson said Southee is "progressing well. He will bowl on Wednesday and we will have more of an insight then."
Seamer Neil Wagner has been called into the New Zealand squad as cover for Southee, while Mitchell McClenaghan has been summoned to replace all-rounder Jimmy Neesham who has been ruled out of the remainder of the Test series with a back injury.
McClenaghan is likely to play in Perth is Southee is unfit.
