Hamilton's result pitch at WestpacTrust Park has both New Zealand and Pakistan seriously considering their options before the third and final National Bank series Test tomorrow.

The game produced two Test victories last summer, one for New Zealand over the West Indies and the other a win for Australia over New Zealand.

New Zealand seems assured to discard their only spinner Grant Bradburn from the final team and will rely on a pace attack of Daryl Tuffey, Chris Martin, James Franklin and Jacob Oram.

Any change from that attack would be based on a final look at the pitch before play tomorrow. If the pace option is taken it will be 44 Tests since New Zealand went into a game without a spinner. The last occasion was in 1996 in Bridgetown, Barbados against the West Indies.

Pakistan is also considering its options and while it would be almost unbelievable that it would consider doing without the off spinning skills of Saqlain Mushtaq, it may be an option.

Mohammad Akram, a tour replacement, bowled well enough in the Wellington game to suggest he would be a suitable candidate as the fourth seamer alongside Waqar Younis, Mohammad Sami and Fazl-e-Akbar.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said today that it was important the side tried to finish the summer with a Test win as it would leave a less bitter taste in the mouth.

"It is a much better wicket and is suited to us with a little seam, bounce and carry," he said.

The nature of the attack chosen would depend on the preparation and the fact the pitch would have another day of sun on it today.

"Taking in four pace men would be a gamble but we may have to gamble a little to win it.

"We're not going to die wondering," he said.

The side needs to take 20 wickets and while the fourth innings could be difficult, New Zealand had to try and win the game the best way possible.

"The pitch has seamed around a little this year and a lot of games here have been decided early," he said.

It was more than likely there would be a result in the game and the wicket was close to the best wicket in the country.

Concerns over wickets were an issue for New Zealand Cricket and their groundsmen to sort out and Fleming would be talking to NZC about his views on the pitch preparations.

The Test is the end of a long campaign for New Zealand which started in September in Zimbabwe and which has produced only two wins, three losses and three draws.

One player in the side who will be looking to make an impact in the game is Tuffey.

Back on home turf, and the ground where he had a tough indoctrination to Test cricket last summer against Australia, going wicketless and his first nine overs going for 75 runs, Tuffey is a much more advanced bowler now.

Earlier this summer, playing for Northern Districts against Wellington, he created mayhem on the pitch taking seven wickets for 12 runs in the first innings and four for 54 in the second as Wellington, the eventual Shell Trophy winners, were beaten by an innings and 46 runs.

"We just have to be patient. It will be a pitch that you never feel quite in on. We will always have to keep at them and keep coming at them around off stump," he said.

Tuffey has been one of the success stories of New Zealand's summer and it would be more than fitting if he were to be the recipient of a double prize by the end of the Test - a Pakistan Test scalp and a successful return to his home ground.

© CricInfo