Australian opener Justin Langer believes New Zealand's batsmen will be fighting fear if Brett Lee earns a Test recall on Thursday.

The West Australian said the likes of Lee, who clocked 160.8kmh on the weekend, and fellow tearaway Shoaib Akhtar naturally made top-order players anxious.

"As a top-order batsman there's always some sort of fear factor," Langer said in the build-up to the first Test at Jade Stadium.

"I've been telling you guys for about 10 years that I love facing fast bowling and it's a great challenge and all the cliches but I can assure you anyone that honestly says that is lying to you.

"When you're facing Akhtar or Brett Lee or (South Australian quick) Shaun Tait there's always that little fear factor."

Lee showed the Black Caps batsmen were often not up to his pace during the one-day series when he dismissed Stephen Fleming cheaply three times and hit Michael Papps in a sickening blow to the helmet.

Langer, who will open with Matthew Hayden in the first Test at Jade Stadium, said the fear of both failure and pain made batsmen jumpy.

"There can be psychological advantages," he said.

"If you bat and get a 100 against Shoaib Akhtar, Brett Lee or Shaun Tait you always know its very rewarding but in the mean time you'll have to put up with some pain and suffering."

Lee is no certainty to play, challenging Michael Kasprowicz and Jason Gillespie for a place in the world champions' line-up.

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