Williamson showed he is in good nick with a quality knock of 68 in the two-day game against the CA XI at Manuka Oval in Canberra on Sunday.

NZ finished on 8-362 in response to the CA XI's 4-325, with only four wickets falling in 172 overs on a batsman-friendly pitch.

Captain Brendon McCullum scored a quick-fire 58 from 49 balls before retiring in his first outing of the tour.

CA XI paceman Peter Siddle toiled hard with 0-34 from 13 overs to state his case for a spot in the Australian side for the first Test at the Gabba on November 5.

After sitting out Friday's one-dayer against the PM's XI, Williamson made the most of his first opportunity at the crease.

Williamson is seventh on the ICC Test batting rankings and will be the second-highest ranked batsman in the Trans-Tasman series, behind only Australian captain and world No. 1 Steve Smith.

The only blemish on Williamson's Test career is that he has yet to prove himself against Australia.

His only two Tests came in 2011, scoring 19 and 0 at the Gabba and 19 and 34 in the second Test won by New Zealand in Hobart.

Williamson's record in his past 12 Tests is superb, compiling 1405 runs at the impressive average of 70.25 with six centuries.

New Zealand batting coach Craig McMillan said Williamson would play a key role in navigating through a red-hot Australian pace attack.

"One of the strengths of Kane over the past 18 months has been his consistency," McMillan said.

"We're hoping for a fair few runs from him at No. 3."

New Zealand opener Martin Guptill was bowled for a duck, while Ross Taylor fell cheaply for the second time in three days, nicking a ball from Jason Behrendorff on 16.

"There's no concerns, you have these games where guys miss out," McMillan said. "That's just the nature of cricket.

"No concerns at all when you're only three cricket days into a tour."

New Zealand will continue their preparations for the first Test when they face another CA XI in a four-day game at Blacktown starting Thursday.

Siddle has largely been on the outer for the past 12 months, but made the most of his chance in the fifth Ashes Test, finishing with match figures of 6-67.

CA XI coach Greg Blewett said it was hard to know which way selectors would be leaning ahead of the first Test.

"I thought he had pretty good rhythm, he hasn't played a lot, which is why he played in this game," Blewett said.

"Sidds is very experienced and he probably doesn't need a whole lot of bowling.

"We know what we're going to get from Sidds, so it was more important giving him a roll."

Promising Canberra spinner Ben Taylor finished with the figures of 0-39 from seven overs.

The under-19 Australian representative was 12th man for both the CA XI and the PM's XI.

He faced the daunting prospect of bowling to McCullum.

"I didn't think I would get a bowl at the start of the day, but it was a good chance to bowl at a few of the Kiwi boys," Taylor said.

"[McCullum] hit a few sixes, but I always thought I was a chance to get him out the way he was playing.

"It's obviously a good challenge and a chance to put my skills to the test."