New Zealand will be without leading wicket-taker Kyle Mills for the series-deciding final Test against England this weekend after he failed to shrug off a niggling knee injury.

The 29-year-old seamer was expected to overcome the knee problem which has troubled him since the Twenty20 match in Auckland last month, but has not prevented him claiming 10 wickets in the opening two Tests.

But he broke down after bowling about two overs in the nets and has now been ruled out of New Zealand's squad for McLean Park.

It is a major blow to New Zealand's hopes of following their one-day series success with a Test series triumph over England and puts uncapped 19-year-old swing bowler Tim Southee on stand-by to make his debut.

"It's something I haven't felt before," Mills said before he was ruled out of the Test. "I've had a strain before and tears before and I know what they feel like.

"This is just in the back of the knee. It all started in the Twenty20 game at Eden Park, the sand based outfield is very soft. I just dove into it and jammed up really. Ever since then it's been niggling me ever since."

New Zealand, who are likely to recall off-spinner Jeetan Patel after he was overlooked in Wellington, must now choose between Mark Gillespie and Southee for the final place in their line-up.

Gillespie, preferred to Patel at the Basin Reserve, justified his selection by claiming six wickets in the match but was also expensive and could come under pressure from the highly-rated Southee.