New Zealand skipper Kane Willamson is looking good for a return to action in the Bangladesh game, head coach Gary Stead said in a press conference. Tim Southee, also out injured during New Zealand's World Cup matches against England and Netherlands, also looks set for a return.

New Zealand will play Bangladesh at Chennai on Friday, October 13 and will be looking to make it three out of three in what has been an impressive campaign so far without their two veteran stars.

"He's [Kane] been progressing very very well. He's had a great last five or six days, really went about the fielding aspect of things," Stead said. "That's the key thing for Kane at the moment. It's not about his injury so much now, it's his ability to run between the wickets and to field and to consistently do that over a 50-over game. We're delighted with where he's at.

"We've got two more trainings still to get through but at this stage all things are looing good for Kane to return in this game. But we still say that with an air of caution but we're really pleased with the way he has been coming on," Stead said.

Tim Southee had been recuperating from a fractured right thumb and Stead informed that Southee had been bowling with full intensity at training sessions.

"Tim will be available for selection, he's been tracking well. Looks like the thumb has set very very well," Stead said. "He has been bowling at full intensity for the last couple of training sessions so he is certainly available for selection."