Form counts for nothing: Khawaja

The clamour for Usman Khawaja to be included in Australia's one-day side has reached fever-pitch proportions, but the batsman is keeping his focus on the ball.

Khawaja was today confirmed as a starter in Saturday's second Chappell-Hadlee ODI, replacing Shaun Marsh to partner David Warner at the top of the order.

Quick Single: Khawaja, Zampa in for second ODI

Khawaja's inclusion is one of two changes for the Australian XI, with young leg-spinner Adam Zampa to make his international debut against the Black Caps.

Khawaja had been in sublime form throughout the Australian summer, but said today he felt that counted for little with a new challenge ahead

"Different conditions, different team," Khawaja told reporters at Wellington's 'Cake Tin' stadium.

"I'm not a big believer in form to be honest so I just got to go out and keep doing the same things – watching the ball, keeping it simple.

WATCH: Australia's horror collapse in Auckland ODI

"It's a new challenge out there so nothing I did previously has any effect on what I do tomorrow."

Khawaja last played in New Zealand as a 12-year-old in a schools carnival but doesn't believe his lack of familiarity will be an issue.

"It's not too different, it's not like going from Australia to India," the 29-year-old Khawaja said.

"It didn't look like it moved around a whole lot at Eden Park. I've played enough cricket now around the world to hopefully convert those runs to here.

Australia suffered a horror top-order collapse against Trent Boult and Matt Henry in the first ODI, falling to 6-41 before eventually being bowled out in less than 25 overs and Khawaja said he would need to judge the conditions of the wicket quickly.

"I like to go out and be pretty aggressive but of the wicket is not conducive to aggressiveness then sometimes you have to bring it back a bit," Khawaja said.

WATCH: Khawaja's sublime form continued in BBL final

"But you have to be adaptable to the conditions. Hopefully I can suss it out early.

"There's a whole lot of factors that go into playing the game – conditionns, the wicket, weather, the ball, how it's deteriorating.

"There's so many things that can change.

"You've just got to fly by the seat of your pants sometimes and just suss out the conditions, not go in with too many preconceived notions so hopefully I'll be doing that tomorrow."

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Khawaja and the rest of Australia's ODI squad trained at the Wellington Regional Stadium today ahead of tomorrow's second ODI and the recalled batsman said it looked a good batting wicket.

"It looked nice and hard, a little bit of grass but not too lively," Khawaja said.

"It's always hard to say what a wicket's going to do before you go and play on it."