New Zealand pace bowler Shane Bond has been ruled out of the rest of the tour after tearing an abdominal muscle on the third day of the first Test against South Africa on Saturday.
"Bond will be out of action for four to six weeks and will return home after the match," New Zealand manager Lindsay Crocker told a news conference after his team were set an unlikely victory target of 531.
The visitors were 57 for three at the close of play after South Africa had declared on 422 for three.
Things were so bad for the Kiwis during South Africa's second innings that they had four substitutes in the field at times.
"Michael Papps was off the field the whole day with a gastro bug," said Crocker.
"He was on a drip in the first session, asleep in the second and in danger of having to pad up in the third."
Medium pacer Chris Martin acknowledged New Zealand had a mountain to climb on the last two days.
"The guys will have, if nothing else, pride to play for," said Martin.
"It's hard to picture a win at this stage but I think the guys who have yet to bat have everything to play for."
South Africa's Jacques Kallis became the eighth player to score 9,000 Test runs when he made 186.
He shared a huge stand of 330 for the third wicket with Hashim Amla, who compiled a career-best 176 not out.
"On a wicket like that I would have taken a hundred, never mind 186," said Kallis.
Amla, who went into the match under pressure to keep his place in the team, was pleased with his knock.
"I think I'll have a better chance of playing in the next game," he said. "It's a huge confidence builder."
