Pakistan, Feb. 21 -- Twenty20 captain Mitch Marsh has given the strongest indication yet that Steve Smith isn't in Australia's preferred top three, raising further doubts over whether the former skipper will go to June's World Cup.

The three-match series against New Zealand starting on Wednesday will be Australia's last T20 workout before the tournament in the West Indies and the United States.

Smith would be unlikely to command a spot in the middle order, meaning his best chance of featuring in the World Cup would be in a top three Marsh described on Tuesday as "pretty set".

"I've batted three for the last 18 months so I'll be there," Marsh said in Wellington.

"Heady (Travis Head) and Davy Warner have been amazing for us over the las...