By Chris Barclay of NZPA

Wellington, Dec 7 NZPA - In an ideal world, Daniel Vettori would have visualised New Zealand returning to the Basin Reserve today to complete a record-setting fourth innings run chase and a test cricket series triumph.

Instead, New Zealand's captain and selector spent last night pondering the composition of a squad now tasked with winning -- or at least drawing -- the third and final test with Pakistan in Napier from Friday.

The current squad had a net practice scheduled at the match venue on what would have been the fifth day of the second test had Pakistan not won by a crushing 141-run margin yesterday afternoon.

Any new additions for the McLean Park assignment will be confirmed about 2pm.

New Zealand's first innings of 99 effectively took a home win out of the equation on Friday, a capitulation inside 37 overs represented the lowest point of a catalogue of batting recent debacles.

The selection panel of Vettori, Mark Greatbatch and Glenn Turner debated how many batsmen should pay for chronic under performance with the skipper suggesting at least two were on shifting ground.

Opening batsman Tim McIntosh and Grant Elliott seem the most vulnerable, though Daniel Flynn, Peter Fulton and Martin Guptill are clearly as uncomfortable against the new ball duo of Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer.

Vettori touted Craig Cumming, BJ Watling and Neil Broom when asked about possible replacements.

Cumming and Watling open the batting, indicating the heat could be on McIntosh after he has managed just 37 runs at 9.25 in four innings.

Broom is at home in the middle order where he has been prolific for Otago since returning from an unspectacular one-day and Twenty20 series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates last month.

He has plundered 196 and 136 in the Plunket Shield though as Fulton's recall after scoring 172 against Otago has proved -- domestic runs do not equate to success at test level.

South African-born Watling, 24, was blooded on the UAE trip, playing the two Twenty20 internationals and is seen as a player for the future.

He has 241 runs at 80.33 for Northern Districts this campaign; Cumming, 34, averages 57.60 for Otago but has rarely impressed during his 11 test career.

Also, in 10 of his 19 test innings he has been dismissed leg before wicket, a weakness the Pakistanis are sure to probe.

Elliott could also be at risk due to lack of runs (59 at 14.75) and the likelihood New Zealand will include offspinner Jeetan Patel as slow bowling back up for Vettori on one of the flattest wickets in the country.

If New Zealand opt to axe Elliott, Brendon McCullum and Vettori could be promoted and Patel eases the strain on the pace trio of Chris Martin, Iain O'Brien and Daryl Tuffey.

Meanwhile, for the batsmen that are retained, Vettori said he would adopt a softly softly approach in the lead-up to Napier.

While it would be easy to be "scathing" of their contributions, it was more useful to offer reassurance.

"You have to try and give these guys some confidence heading into a deciding test match," he said.

Although the team is still without a head coach since Andy Moles was deposed, Vettori denied a lack of technical assistance was a reason for his strokemaker's deficiencies.

"We had John Wright here for a couple of days -- he's worked pretty well with the guys but I think everyone involved with cricket knows it's up to the individual to get himself in the right space.

"It's him walking out there in the middle and him talking control of his career."

Pakistan also has a net session planned today. Other than their own batting issues and a need to remedy their shoddy catching the tourists have few concerns given the bowlers have New Zealand's measure.

A pitch inspection on arrival in Napier tomorrow will determine whether they include two spinners -- Danish Kaneria and Saeed Ajmal.

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