New Zealand coach John Bracewell will give pugnacious opener Jesse Ryder every chance to prove his fitness ahead of the fourth one-day international against England in Napier starting on Tuesday night.
International rookie Ryder impressed with an unbeaten half-century in the Black Caps' 10-wicket victory in the second game of the series, but injured an ankle at Eden Park on Friday.
Bracewell called in all-rounder Daniel Flynn as cover for Ryder but is hoping the batsman will prove his well-being in time for Tuesday.
"It's too early to say but we're more confident as the days progress," he said.
"He feels a lot better today and we won't know a lot more until he starts running around on it but he has had these days to heal."
With two more matches to go Bracewell also added Iain O'Brien to the squad after Paul Hitchcock was released after receiving some punishment from the England batsmen in Auckland.
And with seam bowler Michael Mason sidelined, the coach was anxious to have all options open to him.
"We felt we need to go into the two games with 14 players and we thought we had an excess of bowlers," he added.
"We may have two bowlers doing nothing so we released Paul to go and play some cricket and we needed cover for Jesse Ryder."
