Losing Franklin at the last moment could prove a tough blow
New Zealand swing bowler James Franklin suffered a groin injury in the final build-up to the Brisbane Test to rule him out of the match against Australia.
Coach John Bracewell admitted: "He most certainly would have played."
He instead settled on Kyle Mills and Chris Martin as his fast-medium pair, with Ian Butler missing out.
For Australia, Darren Lehmann shrugged off a hamstring injury to take his place in the side with Brett Lee once again taking on 12th man duties.
Shane Warne also returns to the team after missing the final Test in India with a broken thumb.
The pair are the only changes to the team with Simon Katich and Nathan Hauritz dropping out.
As expected, New Zealand opted for the experience of Craig McMillan over the youthful promise of Hamish Marshall in the middle order.
Bracewell said: "There were a couple of tough decisions, mostly based around balance, the sort of strategy we want to take into the game, and experience.
Lehmann has recently given evidence in the David Hookes trial
"McMillan's selection gives us someone who is battle hardened for a Test match of such magnitude.
"Hamish had just one Test innings in Bangladesh and, while he scored 50, was a bit out of touch in the one-day series."
Bracewell said Franklin's unexpected injury was an "influencing factor" in selecting Mills for his second Test over Butler.
He added: "We want to have at least one swing bowler in the match as Brisbane is one of the few places in Australia where you get the opportunity to swing the ball.
"We are expecting the ball to swing and after our initial look at the wicket it looks dry and is already showing cracks along the length of the pitch which indicates that it might take turn towards the end of the match."
Lehmann was put through his paces by coach John Buchanan in a fitness test at the Gabba and showed no ill affects.
And he will be happy to concentrate on cricket after giving evidence at commital proceedings against a hotel bouncer charged with the manslaughter of former Australia Test batsman David Hookes.
"For Darren, it will be nice to get back into the side, a side that loves him and his company," team-mate Matthew Hayden commented.
"We love the colour and character he brings to the side. He doesn't take the game too seriously. Maybe we all have to take a leaf out of that book."
Australia: Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting (capt), Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann, Michael Clark, Adam Gilchrist (wkt), Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz, Glenn McGrath. (12th man: Brett Lee)
New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (capt), Mark Richardson, Mathew Sinclair, Scott Styris, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum (wkt), Daniel Vettori, Kyle Mills, Chris Martin. (12th man: Hamish Marshall)
''November 17, Brisbane, Australia'' - The Australian cricket team has brashly talked up their chances of winning the first trans-Tasman test, which is due to begin in Brisbane tomorrow.

Bowler Shane Warne has stated that he will be targeting New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, Glenn McGrath has revealed that he will be after Nathan Astle, and Australian batsman Matthew Hayden has vowed to hit New Zealand bowler Daniel Vettori out of the ground.

The New Zealand team's reaction to this Australian bravado was muted.  "It's just history repeating itself", said former New Zealand coach and former test player John Bracewell.  "They just have a set of lines they've been using since I've been coming over here and it's exactly the same story, just a different name saying it. It's just repetitious", he went on to say.  New Zealand batsman Scott Styris went further, labelling the Australians' comments as "a yawn".

Australia is widely tipped to win the opening match of the two test series, especially due to New Zealand's loss of frontline players James Franklin, Darryl Tuffey and Shane Bond to injury.