WACA wicket set for wild west showdown

New Zealand are expected to unleash a four-prong pace attack at the WACA, where Neil Wagner is confident the tourists can do some intimidating of their own.

NZ's quicks failed to fire in the first Test, Tim Southee succumbing to a back injury and Trent Boult struggling for control as Australia declared twice and cruised to a 208-run win.

James Neesham's back injury means there will be at least one change to their XI, with Mark Craig expected to play as a spinning allrounder.

The visitors could then add Wagner or Matt Henry to their pace battery, or both if Southee is unable to prove his fitness before the second Test starts on Friday.

Coach Darren Lehmann suggested earlier this week the WACA could be an intimidating venue for the tourists.

Wagner countered that his side's pacemen were just as capable of intimidation at the Perth venue, where they will seek to level the three-Test series.

"Definitely. I think our attack is up there with the best in the world," Wagner said.

"When Tim, Trent and Dougy (Bracewell) and the rest of them all get it right - they're pretty good bowlers.

"If we can be more consistent for long periods of time, we'll definitely show that." 

WATCH: Johnson, quicks wrap up England at the WACA

Wagner trained at the Melville club with Mitchell McClenaghan on Tuesday, the pair called in as cover following the injuries in the first Test.

The 29-year-old grew up and started his career in South Africa, even fielding for the national side in two Tests.

But the WACA has always held an other-worldly sense of intrigue for the left-armer.

"I loved watching it growing up," he said.

"I'd love to play there. It's pretty awesome, a very special place for fast bowlers.

"If you're going to play at the WACA then you get pretty excited."

But not too excited, Wagner suggesting his side couldn't afford to repeat the mistakes of past touring sides.

"Just watching cricket here over the years, I think overseas teams have come here and bowled a bit too short," he said.

"They get carried away with the bounce and the pace.

"Sometimes you've got to bowl a touch fuller length ... it's a little bit like The Basin in Wellington.

"It's a pretty tough task but all the boys are up for it." 

WATCH: Harris hits WACA crack in 2013

And it seems both the Black Caps and Australia will be presented with a "traditional" WACA wicket, one full of pace, bounce and plenty on offer for the possible eight fast bowlers in the match according to curator Matt Page.

"With us being the WACA, it's all about trying to replicate the olden days and provide a traditional WACA wicket," Page said on Wednesday.

"They changed the clay back to what it originally was six or seven years ago. The pace and bounce has returned since then.

"There will be some pace and bounce for the quick guys, absolutely.

"We'll see a result."

This will please the likes of Mitchell Johnson, who has taken 42 wickets at an average of 20.19 in his six Test matches at the WACA, with his finest moment coming in 2008 when he snared a career-best 8-61 against South Africa.

The 34-year-old combined with Mitchell Starc for 10 wickets in Brisbane, and the pair are aiming to cause even more pain in Perth.

Temperatures are expected to soar up to 37 degrees during the second Test, with the heat in the middle expected to be even hotter.

The WACA has produced a result in each of its past eight Tests, with Australia winning five of those contests, including a 150-run win over England in 2013.

The WACA deck had a green tinge to it on Wednesday, but Page said the colour would fade in the lead-up to the Test.