Boult fitness still a question after Perth hit-out

New Zealand spearhead Trent Boult is in a race against time to be fit for the first Domain Test against Australia but showed encouraging signs on Monday in Perth.

Boult suffered a side injury in New Zealand's innings-victory over England at Mount Maunganui which ruled him out of the second Test in Hamilton and cast doubt about his participation on the Australia campaign.

But the left-armer passed a fitness test to be selected in the touring party and while he did not bowl at Perth Stadium on Monday he did get through a light hit-out and rolled the arm over off a few steps with his teammates on the vast playing surface at dusk.

Allrounder Colin de Grandhomme suffered an abdominal injury in the same Test as Boult and appears to be in the same boat as the veteran seamer. 

New-ball partner Tim Southee says just having Boult in the squad is a good sign for the seamer ahead of Thursday's first Test.

"If he gets through the next few days then I don't see why he wouldn't play," Southee told reporters in Perth. "He's an experienced guy and he knows his body very well.

"If he's good to go he'll be good to go but that will be assessed over the next couple of days."

Boult is a key player for the Black Caps, who are attempting to win their first Test series in Australia in 34 years.

In two day-night Tests, he has captured 16 wickets 17.25, striking every 26.5 deliveries.

The 30-year-old has also taken the wicket of Steve Smith four times in five Tests – all in Australia four years ago – but the world No.2 batsman was quick to point out he had also piled on the runs against his trans-Tasman neighbours.

"The series' that I have played against New Zealand, I have generally scored quite a few runs," said Smith, who has two centuries and averages 67.87 in five Tests against New Zealand.

"He is a good bowler and someone that we have to watch out for, for sure."

While Smith is understandably a big, if not the biggest, wicket in the Australian top order, Southee says his side is not focusing solely on the prolific No.4.

"(Smith) been a terrific player for a while now," Southee said. "The way he transformed himself into one of the best batters in the world after starting as a leg-spinner and he keeps going from strength to strength.

"Our focus is not purely on him. There's other quality batters in the line-up as well and we'll do our research and scouting over the next few days and have our meetings and try to come up with some plans to get Steve Smith out.

"But he's only one of a quality batting line-up."

Domain Test Series v New Zealand

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

New Zealand: Todd Astle, Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, BJ Watling, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson (c)

First Test: December 12-16, Perth Stadium day-night (Seven, Fox & Kayo)

Second Test: December 26-30, MCG (Seven, Fox & Kayo)

Third Test: January 3-7, SCG (Seven, Fox & Kayo)