Fleming remains troubled by a stomach muscle injury sustained on last month's tour of India.

He was examined by New Zealand Cricket's medical panel which declined to give him the all-clear to play in a provincial match this weekend, and at the same time resisted ruling him out.

There were also fears the injury could be a hernia and the New Zealand Press Association said Fleming was to see a specialist on Thursday.

If the news is bad he could require an operation that would sideline him for three to four weeks.

Although Fleming is still hoping to prove his fitness before the Test team is named on Sunday, frontline fast bowler Shane Bond and batsman Nathan Astle are definite non-starters because of injury.

Astle is down with a recurring knee problem which flared up on the India tour while Bond has been sidelined with a stress fracture and both have been ruled out of the Pakistan series.

NZC's medical coordinator, Warren Frost, said it was difficult to put an exact time frame on Bond's return to cricket but it could be several months.

The injury-prone Chris Cairns deputised as captain during the recent one-day series against Pakistan in Pakistan, but Craig McMillan has been suggested as the likely Test captain should Fleming fail to get fit in time.

Cairns has to prove he is fit enough for the rigours of a five-day match after being kept out of Test cricket for nearly two years because of injury.

The first Test against Pakistan is scheduled to start on Friday, December 19.