Black Caps allrounder Doug Bracewell is psychologically preparing to go under a surgeon's knife to repair damage to his left knee.
Bracewell has scheduled an appointment to consult a specialist on Wednesday, January 11, to confirm the need for an operation.
The 26-year-old tore his anterior cruciate ligament while fielding on a dodgy rugby surface at Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth, on December 10 in a game against the Northern Districts Knights during the McDonald's Super Smash T20 campaign.
"At this stage I'm just trying to do some rehab to strengthen the muscles around my knee," he says, after New Zealand Cricket had confirmed ruling out the rugby venue over player safety concerns until further notice from the region's councils that it was suitable for cricket matches.
Bracewell, who toured India in October, wasn't required for the Chappell-Hadlee one-day series across the Tasman or the test series against Pakistan in New Zealand thereafter.