Blackcaps opener Henry Nicholls is under an injury cloud on the eve of the Cricket World Cup final against England.
After compiling a patient 28 runs with the bat, Nicholls did not field in the semi-final victory over India, after aggravating a hamstring injury that had hampered him early in the tournament.
He is clearly still battling to make the starting line-up for Sunday's showdown at Lord's.
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"If he's ruled out, we've got other guys in the squad that I know will step up and will want to be part of this occasion as well," conceded NZ coach Gary Stead.
Nicholls missed New Zealand's first seven games of the World Cup with the hamstring niggle, but Colin Munro largely failed to take advantage of his absence to supplant him at the top of the order.
Although the pair offer contrasting styles, Munro would likely be first cab off the rank again, if Nicholls couldn't prove his fitness.
Hosts England will enter the contest as red-hot favourites, but the Blackcaps' upset semi-final victory showed form and expectations mean little in a one-off match.
"We're really awaure that we don't have to play the perfect game, but what we do have to be able to do is adapt to the conditions that are in front of us," said Stead.
"When you strip it all back, it's just another game of cricket and I guess that's how we're trying to treat it as well.
"When we start the game 50-50 chance of winning the game and we just have to be that little bit better than England are on Sunday."
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