By Mark Geenty of NZPA

Hamilton, March 7 NZPA - Shanan Stewart is poised to become New Zealand's newest one-day cricket international as the injury-hit side try to avert a telling momentum shift in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series against Australia.

The in-form Canterbury batsman was set to join his new teammates in Hamilton tonight for Tuesday's third one-dayer after scoring 227 not out against Central Districts in the Plunket Shield match in New Plymouth today.

With the series level at 1-1, he was summoned as cover for injured pair Ross Taylor and James Franklin, who were both being assessed for hamstring strains by medical staff on arrival in Hamilton.

Coach Mark Greatbatch said the pair would "most likely" miss Tuesday's match and were in doubt for the rest of the five-match series, although he rated Taylor a better chance of returning for Auckland on Thursday or the finale in Wellington on Saturday.

"Shanan has been in our thinking for the Twenty20 World Cup, he's in great nick, he's got a couple of hundreds and a 200 today," Greatbatch said.

"He's an experienced middle order player, a very dynamic one-day player and we feel he plays the aggressive game we're looking to play against the Australians."

Stewart, 27, made his first-class debut in the 2001-02 season, and scored 401 runs at 44.55 in this season's national one-day competition.

He was named last week in the 30-man New Zealand squad for the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean in April.

The likely absence of Taylor and Franklin plus niggly injuries to captain Daniel Vettori (neck), Brendon McCullum (back) and the series-ending knee injury for Jacob Oram, gives Tuesday's side a patched-up look.

With the costly loss of Taylor, batting was the big concern as New Zealand slumped to 89 for five last night before a 12-run loss in the second match in Auckland.

Stewart would bat No 4 or No 5 if selected, Greatbatch said, with Franklin's absence lessening their bowling options.

"We've got to back our bowlers. They've done a pretty good job in the two games so far," Greatbatch said.

"While they've got away to a couple of good starts, we've pegged them back. Our bowlers have done a pretty good job overall on the wickets we've played on and the grounds we've played on."

Vettori rated himself a likely starter on his home ground after he defied a stiff neck to star with two for 43 and a blazing 70 off 49 balls yesterday as New Zealand lost by 12 runs chasing a revised target of 266 off 45 overs.

Gareth Hopkins took the gloves and chipped in with 35 off 39 as McCullum was unable to wicketkeep.

But Chappell-Hadlee Trophy holders Australia now have the momentum after speedsters Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris combined to skittle the New Zealanders as Doug Bollinger was smashed for 63 runs off eight overs.

The tourists arrived in Hamilton with an injury-free squad who warned they were on the improve, with most of their batsmen starting well but none topping 60 as yet.

Michael Hussey topscored in Napier and Auckland with 59 and 56, leaving his average in one-dayers on New Zealand soil at 96.40.

"We're starting to warm into the tour. We started on the wrong foot in the first match and we did enough last night to win. There's a lot of room for improvement with the bat and ball," gloveman Brad Haddin said.

"Everyone's starting to hit the ball pretty well. A lot of us are getting 40s and 50s and some pretty good starts, and getting competitive totals like yesterday. But it's pretty important we start putting some big scores together and start batting New Zealand out of the game."