NZ vs SA: Kane Williamson included as New Zealand name Test squad for South Africa

Wellington: New Zealand have included former skipper and top-ranked Test batter Kane Williamson in their squad for next month's Test series at home against South Africa.

The world's No.1 ranked Test batter is expected to shake off his hamstring complaint and be fit

to take on the Proteas.

The two-match series will be a crucial one for New Zealand in their quest to reach the ICC World Test Championship Final for a second time and the Kiwis will be sweating on the fitness of Williamson and a host of key players ahead of the opening match of the series in Tauranga from February 4.

Williamson is working hard to shake off the hamstring injury he picked up against Pakistan in their recent T20I series, while wicketkeeper-batter Tom Blundell and key pacer Kyle Jamieson are battling fitness concerns ahead of the opening Test of the New Zealand summer.

The trio have been named in New Zealand's 13-player group for the opening Test, with Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel and Ish Sodhi all dropping out of the Kiwis' most recent Test squad that

registered a 1-1 draw in Bangladesh, an ICC report said.

Experienced quick Tim Southee will captain New Zealand during the series, while Will O'Rourke could be in line for his Test debut after he was named in the squad for the second Test in Hamilton.

New Zealand coach Gary Stead is looking forward to the series against South Africa and is expecting the Proteas to provide a stiff challenge to his side.

"It's an honour to be involved in any Test match and I know the players are looking forward to the start of a big Test summer - in what is a big year of Test cricket home and away," Stead said.

"The Proteas are a highly competitive team across formats and, having never won a Test series against them home or away, we expect two stern challenges," he said.

Stead said it was a tough decision to leave out the likes of Nicholls, Patel and Sodhi, but is happy with the balance of their squad.

"All three players have made strong contributions to Test-winning performances over the past 14 months," Stead noted.

"But we believe we've struck a good balance between experience, and providing opportunities for newer players," he said.

Stead is confident his trio of players still battling injury concerns will be fit to play the series opener at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.

"Tom Blundell, Kyle Jamieson and Kane Williamson are all at slightly different points in their rehabilitation plans," Stead said.

"But we're confident they'll be good to go at Bay Oval," he added.

New Zealand squad: Tim Southee, Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke (second Test only), Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson, Will Young.