While the decision on four seamers would not be decided until the morning of the one-off test against Zimbabwe at McLean Park on Thursday, Wright didn't rule out the possibility of an allrounder coming in for a seamer.
He was hoping to scrutinise the wicket today amid speculation head groundsman Phil Stoyanoff has cultured a lush growth on the traditionally benign batting strip.
Green top it may be but the rock-hard surface suggests Bracewell, Southee, Chris Martin or Boult won't find much purchase with swing and seam.
If anything, the growth is likely to prevent wear and tear on the ball but provide bounce and carry for those prepared to bend and break their backs.
"We have to bowl in the right areas and hold our catches so it's not rocket science," Wright said, soon after putting Guptill and Brownlie through a slip-catching drill as fitness guru Chris Donaldson fed balls to the coach and bowling coach Damien Wright fielded.
A more burning question is who will be the wicketkeeper - Kruger van Wyk or BJ Watling - after Reece Young was dropped.
Needless to say Wright reaffirmed the ability to crouch and collect will take precedence and batting will be a bonus.
"That's definitely in that order. You've definitely got to be able to the job behind the stumps otherwise you'd shoot yourself in the foot," he said.
That should effectively make Central Districts Stags wicky Van Wyk the top contender.
Despite making five runs in the first innings in Gisborne, the South African-born, who turns 32 on February 7, bounced back yesterday with 61 not out retired in the second innings.
An accomplished first-class batsman at No7, Van Wyk's batting would hardly have been of concern to the selectors although assuming the mantle of opener at short notice would have enhanced his chances as someone who can deal with the introduction of a new ball after a minimum of 80 overs or 5hr 20min of play.
Northern Districts gloveman Watling, a former opener, has also reaffirmed his batting prowess but he doesn't have the wicketkeeping depth of Van Wyk.
Wright said the Black Caps think tank were "fairly way down the track" on who was likely to start on Thursday.
Watling hadn't done himself any harm in Gisborne after scoring 84 and 20no retired at No6. The 26-year-old was "very exciting".
"Kruger's made a lot of sacrifices to try to make it into the national team ... so what we've got is a lot of internal competition between two great men.
"You know that whoever ends up starting will bring an exciting spirit and attitude," he said, adding his knock yesterday was a good effort.
"You've got to weigh up whether you're happy with BJ doing the job or whether we give him more time and let Kruger have first opportunity."
Age, especially in the longer format, favours the older, gritty South African-born player.
Conversely keeping wicket for a lion's share of five days, depending on the toss, could be mentally taxing for an untested Watling.
But Wright was simply delighted to be in the position of having two players keeping each other honest.
"They both understand that the best man will play and that's what we're trying to do in all our positions - create more competition," he said, adding it would take some time to achieve that status in every position but this test was another opportunity to draw closer to that.
The selectors' other option is to play Watling regardless because Zimbabwe are not in the same league as the Proteas arriving here soon after.
Having said that, losing to the tourists this week won't be an option as it is likely to draw rebuke from detractors already questioning Watling's injection perceived to be smacking of desperation to compensate for a top order's inconsistencies.
Even without captain Brendan Taylor in the dress rehearsal, Wright said Zimbabwe looked more organised.
The tourists had caused skipper Ross Taylor and his men a few problems when they toured Zimbabwe late last year.
With batsmen coming out from the HRV Cup Twenty20 last weekend they will have to adopt a different mindset to occupy the batting crease for lengthy spells.
"It's something we have talked about so it'll be challenging for them because they have been playing that for a month now."
The plus side to that, Wright said, was McCullum, Guptill and Brownlie coming off with tons.
"Those three come in to give us some sort of opportunity to cash in on ball striking.
"In the end it's the balance of working out how to play five-day cricket, which is, you know, hitting the right shots at the right balls," Wright said, hopeful his batsmen would last a few more overs than T20.
With not much sideways movement likely at the McLean Park wicket, he expected his batsmen to find a modicum of stick-ability.
"If you are a batsman and you want to make some runs then Napier isn't a bad place to be," he said, not bothered that Taylor isn't in his best form.
"Ross is captain and understands his responsibilities. He's had some time [54 retired] in Gisborne today, too, ... so, hopefully, we've batted pretty well against Zimbabwe and we want that to continue."
