Brett Lee will play his first match since the tour game at Mumbai five weeks ago against the New Zealanders at the SCG tomorrow.

Lee, who spent the four Tests in India taking out the drinks or substitute fielding, appears likely to fill a similar role in the first Test at Brisbane on November 18. But Lee will get a run for New South Wales against the tourists, and is feeling fitter than ever after exhausting pre-season workouts in India.

Simon Katich was expected to captain the side when he was left out of the Australian squad, but he withdrew after suffering a relapse of a virus he contracted in Mumbai. Brad Haddin will stand in as captain while Aaron O'Brien was recalled to replace Katich. Damian Wallace was dropped from the team that defeated Western Australia in the Pura Cup last week.

New South Wales Brad Haddin (capt and wk), Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Phil Jaques, Jason Krejza, Brett Lee, Greg Mail, Stuart MacGill, Matthew Nicholson, Aaron O'Brien, Matthew Phelps, Dominic Thornely.