England coach Peter Moores expects Ryan Sidebottom to be fit for the opening Test against New Zealand.
The left-arm seamer was forced to miss the final warm-up match against a NZ Select XI in Dunedin due to a right hamstring strain.
The first Test starts in Hamilton on March 5 and Moores believes Sidebottom has enough time to regain full fitness.
"All things being equal it should fix itself in five or six days because it's a grade one tear," said Moores.
"That means he should be OK to prepare. We want him to obviously bowl a couple of times prior to that Test match to check he's fully fit so there's no chance it will react in the game."
If fit, Sidebottom is a certain selection as Matthew Hoggard's new-ball partner, although the make-up of the rest of the bowling attack is less certain.
Steve Harmison, Chris Tremlett and Monty Panesar are all playing against the NZ Select XI, while Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Graeme Swann are the other options in the squad.
