Lee was 12th man in Australia's nine-wicket win in last week's first Test and could be cleared to return home to play in the domestic first-class final if he is overlooked again.

Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said it was possible Lee could return to Australia if he was not in the team but only after the match had started in case any of the other pacemen suffered a late injury.

"Firstly we haven't picked a side and that won't be happening for a day or so and we don't see any reason to change what is normal policy for our Test match side," Hohns said.

"There are lots of things to be taken into account if somebody was to leave the Australian Test side and obviously the captain and team management have to be satisfied that it's okay."

The Australians won the first Test in Christchurch inside four days without Lee and are overwhelming favourites to win the second Test at the Basin Reserve.

While Lee may be going home, fellow pace bowler Glenn McGrath has his eyes on reaching 500 Test scalps before the series ends.

McGrath needs 12 more wickets to become just the fourth bowler to reach the milestone and is hoping for another big haul in Wellington.

"Hopefully the wicket's a little bit quicker, a little bit bouncier," he said.

"If we can make early inroads one way or the other if we bat or bowl, then the pressure will be straight back on."

The Kiwis have not won a Test against Australia in over a decade and have been given little hope of ending their drought this week after they were thrashed 5-0 in the one-day series and then comprehensively lost opening Test.

Stephen Fleming's men dominated the first two days in Christchurch but the match turned Australia's way when Adam Gilchrist and Simon Katich hit individual hundreds in a double-century partnership.

New Zealand coach John Bracewell said his team's chances of winning were dependent on dismissing Gilchrist early.

"We know he's a nervous starter," Bracewell told reporters.

"He's quite fidgety with his bat and pads at the start and wants to get out of the crease as soon as he can. And we try to stop him doing that, try to trap him on the crease.

"He's got the ability to turn a game by being so positive and scoring his runs so quickly. They buy themselves time and momentum.

"Where other teams would use up time to get in a strong position he puts the foot down and gets them back in the game."

LIKELY TEAMS
AUSTRALIA: Ricky Ponting (captain), Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Damien Martyn, Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz, Glenn McGrath.

NEW ZEALAND: Stephen Fleming (captain), Craig Cumming, Hamish Marshall, Lou Vincent, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin.